As an artist who sells things they make to the public, I feel I have an obligation to take some basic quality control measures with the things I sell. I start with buying glazes that are food safe and/or dinnerware safe, depending on the end use. The studio that fires my wares fires to vitrification (cone 6), so I know my wares will be watertight. 

But when it comes to tableware, I take additional quality control steps. If I say something is dishwasher safe, that means I’ve actually run it through my dishwasher. If I say something is oven safe, that means I’ve actually baked something in it.  And I do this with every single piece I create, before I post it to my Etsy shop, because I want to be able to state with confidence that each piece can perform to the standards I am advertising.

Case in point: a new square stoneware baking pan I made. Before I built this, I emailed Georgies (my local clay supplier) and asked them what was the best clay to use for functional bakeware. They recommended two different clays (Pat Horsley and Timberline) because they are heavily grogged and can take the heat in a hot oven. So I ordered a bag of each and tried them out on a number of bakeware projects, including a stoneware square baking pan (a.k.a. brownie pan).

I handwashed the pan, pre-heated the oven, and mixed up a batch of brownies. They baked for 30 minutes, and then sat on the cooling rack for most of the afternoon. I cut out a few squares and took a few beauty shots for the future Etsy shop listing, then put the pan in the dishwasher for a good bath. 

And that was that.

I inspect all of my pieces when I get them home, sand any rough spots on the footers, give them a quick hand wash to remove dust, etc. and this piece had no visible cracks. I wouldn’t have tried baking anything in it if I noticed anything like a crack. And it held up very well in the oven, and I was able to cut out all the brownies without any problems. But the hour-long dishwasher cycle was enough to find whatever hidden flaw or crack or air bubble was there and the piece cracked in half.

So this particular brownie pan has been consigned to the trash bin, but there will be others. And I will continue to test each and every one of them I make, through the oven baking cycle and through the dishwasher cycle, so that I can say with confidence that each particular piece is dishwasher and oven safe. Just as I will pour hot coffee, tea, or water into each mug I make, then run it through the dishwasher. If it can make through the normal paces in my own home, I can feel good about passing it along to someone else.

That doesn’t mean it won’t crack or break during regular use in someone else’s home. Things drop and get bumped or jostled roughly. They’re dishes, and they take a beating just with every day use. Sometimes they develop cracks over time, which is normal wear-and-tear. Does the fact that I actually use an item before I sell it as new make it a used item? I prefer to think of it as a fully tested item, to be honest. 

I’d like to think my customers will appreciate the fact that I’ve actually tested that pie plate or mug or platter they are buying so they know it held up to at least one pass through the dishwasher and/or oven. And they still look great!