Behind the scenes: how a ClayStation piece is made
No molds, no factory — how a mug or matcha bowl goes from raw clay to your door, shaped and painted by hand in our studio in Vietnam.
Every ClayStation piece is shaped by hand from raw clay in our small studio in Vietnam. We don’t use molds, so no two pieces come out exactly the same. Here is the whole journey, step by step.
1. Raw clay, shaped by hand
Each piece starts as a lump of clay on the table. Round forms like bowls and mugs are thrown on the wheel or built up by hand; animals and characters are sculpted by hand. The little details — a frog on a rim, a cat curled up inside a bowl, a duck in a hot spring — are modelled one at a time.
2. Cleaned and carved
Once a piece holds its shape, we clean it and carve the finer lines: leaves, ripples, fur, checks. This is slow work, and it is where each piece starts to get its own little personality.
3. Painted by hand
Every scene is painted with a brush, one piece at a time. That is why the same design never looks quite the same twice — the brushstrokes are always a little different.
4. You approve a photo
For made-to-order pieces, we send you photos before anything is fired. This is your moment to look closely. Nothing goes into the kiln until you say yes.
5. Glazed and fired
After your OK, the piece is glazed and fired in the kiln, and the colours set for good.
6. Packed and sent by express
We pack each piece carefully and ship it by DHL or FedEx — usually 5–10 business days to the USA, Canada and the EU, and 10–20 elsewhere. From order to door, please allow about 3–5 weeks in total.
Why handmade pieces are never identical
Because nothing is pressed from a mold, sizes can vary slightly, and colours and brushwork differ from piece to piece. That isn’t a fault — it is how you can tell a person made it. Each product page lists the measurements, and our size guide explains the small differences.
Curious about a specific piece? See how ordering works or browse the shop.
