Frequently Asked Questions

Batacan Ceramics is made entirely by me, Catherine. I'm a potter, product designer, and dachshund mom. It's a small community studio, so I personally throw, trim, glaze, and fire every piece by hand. There's no team and no factory; when you buy from Batacan Ceramics, the mug or bowl in your hands was shaped by mine.

Batacan Ceramics is made by hand in a community studio in El Cerrito, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. Every piece is thrown, glazed, and fired here in small batches. The work is rooted in a California modern aesthetic: clean lines, soft organic forms, and layered glazes inspired by where I live and work.

Batacan Ceramics has a "California modern" aesthetic: clean lines, soft organic forms, and layered glazes that react in the kiln to create dynamic, natural surfaces. I make grounded, honest, everyday objects meant to be used rather than displayed. Each piece is shaped with intention but guided by the clay, so it feels quietly beautiful and a little imperfect.

When you buy a Batacan Ceramics pre-order piece, your purchase adds you to my order list, and I send your piece as soon as it's finished. Pre-order items are still moving through the studio: being thrown, dried, bisque-fired, glazed, and fired a final time. Each pre-order piece is a small batch, often just a handful, with its estimated delivery window shown on the product page, and you can cancel any time before your order ships.

Reserving a Batacan Ceramics piece means claiming one from a limited batch that isn't finished yet. Because I work solo in small batches, often only a handful of each piece, reserving guarantees one is set aside for you. Once that batch is done, I ship your reserved piece directly to you.

Your Batacan Ceramics pre-order ships as soon as the batch is finished, with an estimated delivery window noted on each product, so check the delivery estimate on the piece you're reserving. Because these are handmade and move through drying, bisque firing, glazing, and a final firing, timelines are estimates, I'll email you when yours is on its way.

You're charged at the time of purchase when you reserve a Batacan Ceramics pre-order, and I ship your piece as soon as it's ready to leave the studio. Paying up front is what reserves your spot on my order list for that limited batch. You won't be charged again, and if you change your mind before your piece ships, just email me at catherine@batacanceramics.com and I'll cancel your order and issue you a refund.

You're charged at the time of purchase when you reserve a Batacan Ceramics pre-order, and I ship your piece as soon as it's ready to leave the studio. Paying up front is what reserves your spot on my order list for that limited batch. You won't be charged again, and if you change your mind before your piece ships, just email me at catherine@batacanceramics.com and I'll cancel your order and issue you a refund.

Batacan Ceramics ships within the United States only. I don't currently offer international shipping. All U.S. orders are sent via USPS with shipping calculated at checkout.

Batacan Ceramics shipping is calculated at checkout based on your order. I ship within the United States via USPS. Because these are handmade ceramics, I pack every order carefully, so it arrives safely.

In-stock Batacan Ceramics orders ship within 5–7 business days from the time you order, sent via USPS within the United States. Pre-order pieces are different, they ship once the batch is finished, with an estimated delivery window noted on each product, so you'll see the timing before you reserve.

Batacan Ceramics are packed with care using eco-friendly shipping materials, so each piece arrives intact. Because everything is handmade and breakable, careful packing is a priority for every order. If a piece ever does arrive damaged, email me right away at catherine@batacanceramics.com.

Yes, I take commissions now and then at Batacan Ceramics, when a project sparks something. Past commissions include the Bingham ramen bowl, a wide 8–9" rim narrowing to a base half that size, lifted on a pedestal. Since I work solo in a home studio, I take a limited number, so custom pieces are chosen selectively rather than as a standing service.

You can request a Batacan Ceramics commission by emailing me at catherine@batacanceramics.com or through the contact form. Just tell me about the piece you have in mind. I read every message personally and will let you know whether it's something I can take on, along with the price and timeline before I accept.

Batacan Ceramics commissions are priced on a piece-by-piece basis, since each custom project is different. Before I accept any commission, I'll let you know both the price and the estimated delivery time so there are no surprises. Because I work solo in small batches, commission timelines depend on the piece and my current studio schedule.

Batacan Ceramics generally does not accept returns or exchanges, because every piece is handmade and one-of-a-kind. Unused, unopened items in their original packaging may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. If your item arrives damaged or defective, report it to me immediately at catherine@batacanceramics.com and I'll make it right.

Yes, you can cancel a Batacan Ceramics pre-order. Since pre-orders are charged at the time of purchase, just reach out to me at catherine@batacanceramics.com and I'll take care of the cancellation and refund. Because these pieces are made in limited batches, letting me know sooner rather than later is always appreciated.

If your Batacan Ceramics piece arrives damaged or defective, email me immediately at catherine@batacanceramics.com and I'll take care of you. I pack every order with care using eco-friendly materials to prevent breakage, but ceramics are fragile and accidents in transit can happen. Reporting it right away helps me resolve it quickly.

Yes, every Batacan Ceramics mug and bowl is dishwasher-safe, and microwave-safe too. Because each piece is handmade and glazed by hand, I still recommend gentle handwashing to keep it looking its best over the years. All my glazes, from Shino to Celadon to my layered finishes, are food-safe and lead-free, so your piece is ready for everyday meals and drinks.

Batacan Ceramics pieces are microwave-safe, so the microwave is fine, but I don't recommend the oven. They're dishwasher-safe too, though I always suggest gentle handwashing to protect the handmade glaze over time. Keeping pieces out of the oven avoids the thermal shock that can crack handmade ceramics. All my glazes are food-safe and lead-free.

Yes, all Batacan Ceramics glazes are food-safe and lead-free. That's true for every piece I make, from mugs to bowls to jars, whatever glaze or finish it wears. That means your piece is completely safe for daily use with food and drink. I choose my glazes with everyday use in mind, so you can reach for them at every meal.

Batacan Ceramics pieces are dishwasher-safe and microwave-safe, though I recommend gentle handwashing to protect the handmade glaze over time. I'd keep them out of the oven, since sudden temperature changes can stress handmade ceramics. All my glazes are food-safe and lead-free, so your piece is made to be used and enjoyed every single day.

Batacan Ceramics pieces are made from a handful of different clay bodies, including a smooth black clay I call "Night," an iron-rich red clay, and a speckled clay, and finished with food-safe glazes such as Shino, Celadon, Black Walnut, and Pearl White. I love layering glazes so they react in the kiln, creating dynamic, organic surfaces where the colors meet.

Every Batacan Ceramics piece is slightly different because each one is thrown and glazed by hand in small batches, and clay has its own language. Glazes react unpredictably in the kiln, and no two firings are identical, so subtle variations in form and surface are built in. Those imperfections aren't flaws; they're the fingerprint of handmade work.

"Small batch" at Batacan Ceramics means I make a limited number of each piece by hand rather than mass-producing them. A typical run is only a handful of pieces. Working in small batches lets me shape each piece with intention and stay close to the process, which is why quantities are limited and pieces often sell out.

Batacan Ceramics clay shrinks about 12% to 14% in the kiln, which is one reason handmade pottery takes patience and planning. With lidded jars, for example, I have to imagine the lid larger at the wheel and adjust every rim, gallery, and shoulder so it seats snugly after firing. That shrinkage is also why finished dimensions vary slightly from piece to piece.

Batacan Ceramics pieces range from about $25 to $150, depending on size and complexity. Mugs are $50, jars run $65–$100, and bowls range from $25 for small pieces up to $150 for a 12-inch centerpiece bowl. Dimensions are listed on each product page, for example, my Medium Bowl measures 8.5" wide by 3" tall.

Every Batacan Ceramics product page list that piece's dimensions, so you'll always know the size before you buy. Because each piece is thrown by hand, measurements are close but can vary slightly from one to the next, part of what makes handmade work one-of-a-kind. If a measurement you need isn't listed, email me at catherine@batacanceramics.com and I'll check for you.

Yes, Batacan Ceramics pieces are made to be used every day, not just displayed. I design grounded, honest objects (mugs, bowls, and jars) that are durable enough for daily rituals and meant to be woven into your everyday life. They're dishwasher- and microwave-safe with food-safe, lead-free glazes; just skip the oven.

Batacan Ceramics can include a gift message with the sender's name, but I'm not able to gift wrap pieces. That's because each ceramic needs specific, protective packaging to survive shipping intact, and gift wrap would compromise that. Just email me at catherine@batacanceramics.com with your order number, the recipient’s name, and your message, and I'll make sure it's included.

Order in-stock Batacan Ceramics pieces at least 1–2 weeks before you need them, since in-stock orders ship within 5–7 business days via USPS and each piece is one-of-a-kind. Pre-order pieces aren't a good fit for a firm gift date, some won't deliver for months, and each shows its own window on the product page. For a deadline, choose a piece that's in stock.