~pottery:Great Uses for Pottery

 

If you are just beginning to collect pottery I will let you in on a little secret that avid collectors know all too well: pottery is infinitely useful and extremely versatile. This means that most pottery can function in more than one capacity. You do need to make sure that there aren't certain restrictions on the pieces you purchase though most dealers will let you know the necessary care instructions and precautions that should be taken when you make the purchase. 

That being said most pottery is dishwasher and microwave safe (depending on the glazing method-Raku pottery is not), food safe (again this depends largely on the glazing method and any paints that may have been used), safe for use in the oven, and able to hold liquid. This means you have a lot of options with most pottery pieces that go well beyond the uses for which the specific piece may have been designed to carry out. 

Storage. Vases are great for holding things. They are by no means limited to flowers. Small pottery pieces are great for holding perfumes, particularly those with stoppers, or oils, and countless other small treasures you have lying around. Larger pieces are great for storing large stores of food. And various medium sized pottery pieces make excellent canisters in the kitchen for storing all manner of items.

Display. Of course there are many pottery pieces that we want to showcase and display but did you realize that pottery could also be used to display other items you want to show off in the home. We have a pottery spoon rest that we decided to use in the bathroom as a soap dish. It's great for displaying the special hand soaps in the bathroom and adds a little splash of color to the bathroom counter top.

Cooking. Believe it or not, pottery can withstand fairly high temperatures with grace and style. This makes it an excellent choice for cooking in many households. We use pottery in the microwave and the oven, though never stove top for preparing and serving all kinds of dishes. If you are wary about using these beautiful pieces for cooking, they do make excellent choices for serving food. 

Dining. Stoneware is a very popular style of casual dinnerware these days and with good reason. Not only is it a beautiful addition to any table but it is also quite versatile. You may also find mugs, plates, and bowls that are thrown or hand built for your dining pleasure. Regardless, most tables are greatly enhanced by the addition of pottery rather than many other choices on the market today.

As you can see there are many things that may be done with pottery today. Be careful that you do not establish molds for your pottery to conform to or you will miss out on much of the versatility that many find the primary incentive for investing in pottery for the home. Pottery is a beautiful addition to any home and should not be hidden away but used fully and regularly in order to enjoy the true value of the pieces and get your money's worth from the use of these pieces. The true value in pottery is in how much it enhances your life; it won't enhance your life very much if kept locked away in the kitchen cabinets.