Questions

Does it cost anything to send a request?

No. A request is free and doesn't commit you to anything. An order only starts when you agree to the quote and pay.

Is the quote the full price?

Yes. The quote is one total in US or Australian dollars: the piece, tracked and insured shipping, and import duties. For very large orders there can be costs at the border that I can't pay for you, and I'll explain those before I send the quote.

I'm in the US. Will I have to pay anything on delivery?

You shouldn't. Under current US rules I declare and pay the import duties before the parcel leaves Japan, and that amount is in your quote. US Customs makes the final assessment, so if the duty works out different when I ship, I'll contact you before sending. This applies to orders up to US$2,500. For anything bigger, see "Can I order several pieces at once?"

I'm in Australia. Will I pay GST or duty on delivery?

Not normally. Orders valued at A$1,000 or less, not counting shipping, aren't charged customs duty or GST at the Australian border. If the rules change before your order ships, I'll tell you before you pay.

How do I pay?

After you agree to the quote, I'll email you a payment link. You pay in US or Australian dollars, the same total as the quote. Nothing is charged until you pay that link.

Can I cancel after paying?

Write to me as soon as you can. If I haven't ordered the piece from the potter yet, I'll refund you in full. I usually order on the day you pay, so after that I may not be able to cancel.

How long does it take to arrive?

It depends on the potter. If the piece is ready, it can leave Japan soon after you pay. If it has to be made or wait for the next firing, it takes longer. Your quote gives an estimate, and I'll tell you early if it changes. You'll get a tracking number by email the day it leaves Japan.

Can it arrive by a certain date?

Tell me the date when you send your request, and I'll say honestly in the quote whether I think it can make it. I can't promise a date, because firings and shipping don't always go to plan.

What if it arrives broken?

Email me a photo within 7 days of delivery and I'll refund you or re-order the piece, at no cost to you. You don't need to send the broken piece back.

Are small cracks in the glaze or dark specks a fault?

Usually not. Many glazes form fine crackles as they cool, and clay can leave small dark specks or pinholes. Wood-fired pieces may have ash, rough spots or marks where they touched other pots in the kiln. If you're not sure whether something is damage, send me a photo and I'll ask the potter.

Can I return a piece?

Each piece is ordered from the potter for you, so I can't take returns if you change your mind. If something is wrong with your piece, please write to me and we'll work it out. Nothing here limits your rights under the consumer law of your country.

Can I send a piece as a gift?

Yes. Tell me the delivery address and, if you like, a short message, and I'll put a card in with the piece. Your quote includes shipping and import duties, so the person receiving it shouldn't be asked to pay anything on delivery. I won't put the price on anything inside the parcel. The customs form on the outside has to show what the piece cost, so I can't leave it off there or mark it as a gift.

Can I order several pieces at once?

Yes. For larger orders, import costs can be higher, and above a certain value (A$1,000 for Australia, US$2,500 for the United States) some of them are paid on delivery rather than included in my quote. I'll tell you before I send a quote if your order is likely to go over that.

Will I get exactly the piece in the photo?

Handmade pots vary, and wood-fired pieces like Bizen vary a lot, so the photos I share show the kind of piece rather than the one you'll get. I'll send photos of your actual piece before it ships, and with your quote whenever the potter can share them.

How big is it?

I ask the potter for the size, and for cups and flasks how much they hold, and put it in your quote in cm and inches, ml and fl oz. If the potter can't tell me, I'll say so in the quote, and I'll measure it myself when it reaches me, before it ships.

Is it safe to eat and drink from?

I only offer pieces the potter makes for everyday use at the table. I don't have lab tests for individual pieces, so I can't tell you what's in a particular glaze. If you'd like, I can ask the potter about the glaze on the piece you're interested in. Bizen pieces have no glaze at all.

Can it go in the microwave or dishwasher?

That depends on the potter and the clay, so I ask for each piece and put the answer in your quote. For unglazed pieces like Bizen, wash by hand with a mild dish soap and let them dry fully before you put them away. Please don't put any piece in the oven or over a flame unless the potter says it's made for it, and try to avoid sudden changes of temperature.

Is there anything to do before using a Bizen piece?

Before I use a new Bizen piece, I soak it for a while, usually in the water left from rinsing rice. That's just what I do at home. Because there's no glaze, the clay takes in a little water and can look darker when wet, then lighter again as it dries. Let it dry fully before you put it away.

Can you get a piece I saw somewhere else?

Send me a photo or a link and I'll ask the potter whether they can make or sell one. I can't always find the same piece, and some potters don't send work overseas.

Does it come with a wooden box?

Some potters sell pieces in a signed wooden box and some don't. I'll say in the quote whether yours comes with one. I'll also send a photo of the base, so you can see any mark the potter has put on it.

What happens if the potter can't make it after I've paid?

It's rare, but if it happens, I'll refund you in full.

Which countries do you send to?

For now, the United States and Australia. I hope to add the UK and Europe later.