Ceramics have been having a moment lately.
Maybe it’s the rise of slower living and investing in fewer, better things. Or maybe we’re just tired of eating off chipped Kmart plates and drinking coffee from mass-produced mugs that don’t spark much joy.
Whatever the reason, there’s something especially lovely about using handmade ceramics for our every day.
This is a roundup of our favourite Australian ceramics brands, for homewares that are functional, beautiful, and a little bit special.
Bridget Bodenham
Hand-pinched egg cups, tiny salt and pepper shakers, little bowls for jewellery and kitchen bits. There’s a touch of gold and a bit of whimsy in everything Bridget makes. She also creates those beautiful bee water bowls for the garden.
Pottery For The Planet
You’ve probably seen their cups, they’re everywhere for good reason. Designed to replace single-use coffee cups, Pottery For The Planet’s signature pieces are handmade in Noosa and Dunsborough with that soft-glazed, earthy feel that’s become a bit of a cult favourite.
The Austin Flowers
Pop culture ceramics with a nostalgic twist. Vegemite jars, Clag glue bottles, Saxa Salt vases all slip-cast in clay and a little squished, like something pulled from memory and warped into art. Playful, clever, and very fun to have around.
Kim Wallace Ceramics
Handmade in Noosa, Kim Wallace’s ceramics are relaxed, earthy, and made to be used. Plates, bowls, and kitchen staples you’ll reach for daily. Practical enough for the dishwasher, pretty enough to feel a bit special.
Jedda
Byron Bay-based and full of good energy, Jedda makes cheerful, small-batch ceramics that are just asking to be filled with your morning brew. If you’re local, pop into the store, she also runs casual clay classes on the side.
Kirsten Perry
A Melbourne-based ceramicist, Kristin makes sculptural, otherworldly pieces that look like they’ve been dug up from another time (or planet). Vessels, wall pieces, and forms that feel like they belong in a gallery, or your living room.
MUD
Earthy and minimalist. MUD makes those grown-up feeling homewares in a palette of soft pastels and neutrals. From dinnerware to lighting (those pendants!), every piece is simply, but beautifully made.
Robert Gordon
A classic for a reason. Robert Gordon’s been making ceramics since the ’70s, with some pieces still made locally at their Melbourne studio (which you can visit, workshops and all), the rest overseas. Dishwasher-safe and dinner-party tested, I’ve had some pieces for well over a decade. A great option for affordable homewares that age beautifully.
Takeawei
Bold, bright, and a little bit beachy. Takeawei’s ceramics bring serious colour to the table. Made in Torquay on Victoria’s Surf Coast, their wavy-glazed mugs, platters and planters feel like summer in ceramic form.
Trade The Mark
Ceramics that double as art, hand-built vessels, bowls and hanging planters are painted like canvases. Each one completely unique and made by artist Christina McLean in her Sydney studio.
Adele Jade
Tuscan-style platters, amphoras, and espresso cups with a nod to the ancient world. Adele Jade’s ceramics are handmade in small batches, shaped by her background in archaeology and a love of old-world forms. She also runs occasional workshops.
Tantri Mustika
Hand-stained, marbled, and full of colour. Tantri Mustika’s ceramics bring serious art energy into the everyday. Each piece is one of a kind, made in small batches in Melbourne, and often looks like it’s been carved from stone (if stone came in lilac or apricot).
A Special Mention – The Melbourne Ceramics Market
If you prefer to see and touch before you buy, the Melbourne Ceramics Market is worth a visit. Held a few times a year, it brings together hundreds of talented ceramic artists under one roof. It’s a great way to meet the makers and pick up something truly one of a kind.
