Handcrafted stoneware, made in Oxfordshire
When you place a handmade stoneware vase in a room, something shifts. This vase, shaped by hand and inspired by classical Greek forms, anchors a display with quiet certainty. It functions both as a sculptural object in its own right and as a vessel ready to hold fresh blooms. The interplay of hand-applied cobalt decoration and reactive glazes creates depth and movement across its surface, rewarding close attention. Made in our Oxfordshire studio through a process that begins on the wheel and continues through careful hand-finishing, each piece carries the mark of deliberate making.
Form & Character
The vase rises with classical proportion. Its form speaks of tradition and careful balance, with walls that taper gently from a wide body to a restrained neck. The surface catches light differently depending on the angle from which you view it, revealing layers of glaze and hand-painted detail. Its weight is substantial but not unwieldy. Hold it, and you feel the thickness of the thrown walls, the care taken to create a vessel that will endure. Place it on your shelf, and it reads as a sculptural object first, a functional container second. The repeating patterns of hand-applied cobalt draw the eye around its circumference, creating visual rhythm without visual noise.
Made for display, built to hold
You might choose this vase for its presence alone. Set it on a shelf or mantelpiece, and it anchors that space through the depth of its finish and the confidence of its form. It earns its place on display. And when you bring home stems from the garden or a market bunch of flowers, this vase is ready. The wide opening accommodates blooms generously, and the interior glaze is smooth and food-safe for water. Whether it holds flowers or stands empty, it holds the room with the same quiet authority. Its sculptural character means it belongs in your home either way. The dual nature of functional and display object is central to its design.
Handcrafted in Oxfordshire
Every vase in this collection is thrown by hand on the wheel in our Oxfordshire studio. The process begins with raw clay, centred and opened to its form, walls pulled upward and shaped through repeated passes. Once the basic form is set, the surface receives hand-applied cobalt decoration. Each line is applied with a calligraphy brush by the maker, creating the repeating ornate patterns that bring harmony to the whole. The vase is then finished, refined, and set aside to dry slowly before firing. No two pieces are exactly alike. The variables inherent in handmade ceramic work include the pressure of the hand, the angle of the brush, and the moisture content of the clay. Each vase is genuinely individual. This individuality is not a flaw; it's a feature of working with a living material and skilled hands.
Quality & care
This vase is fired to Cone 6, a measure of heatwork that renders the clay body dense, hard-wearing, and non-porous. The glaze is food-safe, suitable for holding water and fresh flowers. The chip-resistant surface will withstand years of daily use or display. To care for your vase, hand-wash in warm soapy water and dry with a soft cloth. Avoid thermal shock. Do not move it from a cold environment to a hot one, or vice versa. It is not suitable for the dishwasher. The piece will age gracefully; over time, any fine scratches or marks from use will contribute to its patina, adding to rather than detracting from its character.
About Brooker Ceramics
Brooker Ceramics is a handmade ceramics studio based in Oxfordshire, UK. We create functional ware and sculptural ceramics informed by a deep respect for material and process. Every piece is thrown, decorated, or finished by hand. Over 25,000 people follow our work on YouTube, where we share the making process in full transparency. Our philosophy is straightforward: work slowly, pay attention to detail, make objects that earn their place in your home through the certainty of their making and the warmth of their surface. We believe that handmade ceramics have a role to play in a world of mass production. They are objects that slow you down, that reward sustained attention, and that connect you to the hands and intention behind them.
Please note: as these are handmade objects, they may vary in colour, shape and size from one piece to the next. These variations are not defects. They are celebrated as part of the handmade quality of every piece.
Refund policyOur refund and returns policy lasts 30 days. If 30 days have passed since your purchase, we are unable to offer a full refund or exchange.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused, in the same condition you received it, and in its original packaging. A receipt or proof of purchase is required for all returns. Please do not send your purchase back to Country living; instead, follow the steps below to return your item to Brooker Ceramics.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned:
- Perishable items such as plants, food, and flowers.
- Gift cards, downloadable software, some health and personal care items, and intimate or sanitary goods.
- Hazardous materials or items containing flammable liquids or gases.
Returns for Ceramics
- Ceramics are eligible for return within 30 days of purchase.
- Returned ceramics must be unused and in the same condition in which you received them, including their original packaging.
- To initiate a return, please contact us via email at hello@earthandclay.co.uk for instructions. Return shipping costs are the responsibility of the customer.
- Once we receive and inspect the returned item, we will notify you via email of the approval or rejection of your refund. If approved, your refund will be processed, and a credit will be applied to your original method of payment within a certain amount of days.
Partial Refunds
In certain situations, only partial refunds may be granted. This may apply to:
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged, or missing parts for reasons not due to our error.
- Any item returned more than 30 days after delivery.
Sale Items
Only regular-priced items may be refunded. Sale items are non-refundable.
Exchanges
We replace items only if they are defective or damaged. If you need to exchange an item for the same one, please contact us at hello@earthandclay.co.uk and we will provide a return address.
Gifts
If the item was marked as a gift when purchased and shipped directly to you, you will receive a gift credit for the return value. Once the returned item is received, a gift certificate will be mailed to you.
If the item wasn’t marked as a gift at the time of purchase, or if the gift giver had the item shipped to themselves, we will send the refund to the gift giver.
Shipping Returns
Please contact us at hello@earthandclay.co.uk and we will provide a return address. Shipping costs for returns are the customer’s responsibility and are non-refundable. If a refund is issued, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from the refund amount.
For higher-value items, we recommend using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance, as we cannot guarantee receipt of your returned item.
Late or Missing Refunds
If you have not received your refund within the expected timeframe, please:
- Check your bank account.
- Contact your credit card company, as there may be a delay in processing.
- Contact your bank, as processing times may vary.
If you have completed these steps and still have not received your refund, please contact us at hello@earthandclay.co.uk.
Need Help?
Contact us at hello@earthandclay.co.uk for any questions related to refunds and returns. Thank you for supporting Brooker Ceramics and Plants!