Stoneware

Stoneware is colourful, handmade ceramics fired at a high temperature, which makes the material dense, durable and rich in colour. At Dims Studio we gather a wide range of stoneware from Quail, Bloomingville, &Klevering and Kersten, among others: animal vases, salt and pepper sets, egg cups, plates, jugs and candle holders in a colourful, playful universe. Here's a guide to types, colours, sizes and brands, so you can find the right stoneware for your home.

What is stoneware?

Stoneware is a type of ceramic fired at a high temperature, which makes the material denser and more durable than ordinary earthenware. The surface is then glazed, giving the stoneware its characteristic smooth, often slightly textured finish that holds up well to everyday use. Many of the pieces in the range are also hand-painted, giving natural variations in colour and detail from piece to piece.

Stoneware is used widely in home decor and kitchenware because it combines durability with a warm, earthy look. At Dims Studio, the category covers everything from decorative animal vases to functional kitchen accessories, united by the fact that it's all made from stoneware. Because the material can be both shaped in detail and stand up to daily use, stoneware suits purely decorative pieces just as well as tableware and utensils used every day in the kitchen.

Product types in stoneware

The stoneware range at Dims Studio spans widely. Here are the categories you'll find the most of.

Animal vases and figure vases

The largest category in the range is animal vases in stoneware from Quail, where motifs such as cow, giraffe, koala, zebra, panda and hippo are shaped as vases or pencil holders. Many also work as wall vases, where an animal head or figure is shaped so it can hang on the wall with a small opening for a single stem or flower.

Salt and pepper sets

Quail's salt and pepper sets in stoneware are a staple of the range, shaped as dog motifs and other animals, including pug, dachshund, westie, labrador, English bulldog and French bulldog. The sets are both a functional kitchen item and a decorative detail on the dining table.

Egg cups

Egg cups in stoneware from Quail are often shaped as animal motifs, including giraffe, leopard and puffin, and are one of the more playful touches on the breakfast table. They work well as a small gift or as a fun detail for everyday breakfast.

Dishes and plates

&Klevering is behind several of the range's dishes and plates in stoneware, including fish dishes and seafood dishes shaped as lobster and other sea creatures, along with plate sets with lemon and orange motifs. Bloomingville MINI also contributes sweeter motifs such as the Sweets plate.

Jugs

Jugs in stoneware come from both Quail, in animal motifs such as cow, mouse, goat, tiger and wild boar, and from &Klevering and Creative Collection in fruit motifs such as lemon and Limone. The jugs work well for juice, water and as a decorative part of the breakfast table.

Cups and mugs

Cups and mugs in stoneware come mainly from Bloomingville, with models such as Amalia, Milani, Shine, Paula and Ninka, as well as from Bloomingville MINI with more playful motifs such as Regnbue and Agnes. See the full range under Stoneware mugs.

Jars and pots

Jars and pots in stoneware range from Quail's smaller animal vases and pencil holders to Creative Collection's Limone jar and Bloomingville's Biona jar, and are typically used for storing smaller kitchen items or as decoration.

Candle holders

Bloomingville supplies the majority of the candle holders in stoneware, with models such as Missy, Sassy, Tacana, Caty, Florita and Rory, while Kersten contributes the more playful Fried Egg candle holder. See the full range under Stoneware candle holders.

Piggy banks

Quail also stands behind a series of piggy banks in stoneware, shaped as animals such as guinea pig, fox, wild boar and badger, a fun and decorative detail for the kids' room or as a personal gift.

Product types compared

Type	Main brands	Characteristics
Animal vases	Quail	Moulded animal motifs, many doubling as pencil holders or wall vases
Salt and pepper sets	Quail	Dog motifs and other animals, functional and decorative
Egg cups	Quail	Playful animal motifs for the breakfast table
Dishes and plates	&Klevering, Bloomingville MINI	Fish, seafood and fruit motifs
Jugs	Quail, &Klevering, Creative Collection	Animal and fruit motifs
Cups and mugs	Bloomingville, Bloomingville MINI	Plain and patterned everyday cups
Candle holders	Bloomingville, Kersten	From classic to playful motifs like fried eggs
Piggy banks	Quail	Animal motifs for the kids' room or as a gift

Colours and motifs in stoneware

What the stoneware at Dims Studio has in common is a colourful, playful look, but the degree of colour and character of the motifs varies across brands.

Animal motifs

Quail is known for detailed animal motifs, where the shape often stays true to the animal's actual body and face, while the colours are lifelike or lightly stylised. This style runs through the vases, salt and pepper sets, egg cups and piggy banks.

Fruit and sea motifs

&Klevering and Creative Collection work more with fruit and sea motifs such as lemon, orange, fish and seafood, often in clear, saturated colours that give a fresh, summery feel to the kitchen or dining table.

Plain and Scandinavian

Bloomingville represents the more understated part of the range, with plain or lightly patterned pieces in a Scandinavian design language, particularly among cups and candle holders, where calm and form take centre stage over a bold motif.

How to mix motifs and colours

If you want to combine several types of stoneware in the same room, it's a good idea to let one category set the tone while the rest play along. If you have, say, a group of animal vases from Quail as the visual focal point on a shelf, it can help to keep cups and candle holders in a calmer, plain look from Bloomingville, so they don't compete for attention. Conversely, a few colourful pieces from &Klevering or Creative Collection can give an otherwise neutral kitchen a fresh, playful touch without becoming overwhelming.

Sizes in the stoneware range

The size of stoneware varies a lot depending on product type, from small egg cups to larger dishes and jugs. Here's a general guide to what to expect.

Small pieces: egg cups, pencil holders and small vases

The smallest pieces in the range, such as egg cups and the smaller animal vases from Quail, are typically under 15 cm tall. They work well in groups or as a small, curated detail on a shelf or breakfast table.

Medium pieces: cups, jars and salt and pepper sets

Cups, jars and salt and pepper sets typically sit in the medium size category and are sized for everyday use on the table, where they need to be easy to handle and fill.

Large pieces: dishes, jugs and candle holders

The largest pieces in the range, such as &Klevering's fish dishes and most of the jugs, are designed to be the visual centrepiece on a table or shelf, and work well as a gathering point for a festive spread.

How to build a stoneware collection

Many customers start with a single piece of stoneware and build the collection over time. Here are a few tips for doing it with style.

• Pick a running theme. Stick to animal motifs from Quail, or fruit and sea motifs from &Klevering, if you want a cohesive story across the pieces.
• Mix function and decoration. Combine functional pieces such as jugs and salt and pepper sets with purely decorative pieces such as animal vases, so the collection is both seen and used.
• Build up piece by piece. Because many of the pieces are hand-painted and produced in smaller batches, it makes sense to add one new piece at a time rather than buying a whole set at once.
• Think in colours. Choose pieces in related colour tones if you want a calm overall look, or mix contrasting colours deliberately for a more maximalist expression.
• Use gifts as part of the collection. A single piece of stoneware, like an animal vase or an egg cup, is an obvious gift that can also become part of the recipient's growing collection.

Care and maintenance of stoneware

• Most stoneware products are dishwasher-safe, but always check the individual item's description if it has a hand-painted or detailed finish.
• Avoid sudden temperature changes, such as pouring boiling liquid into a piece straight from the fridge, as this can cause cracks in the glaze.
• Wipe hand-painted pieces with a soft, damp cloth if you want to preserve the colours for as long as possible.
• Store your stoneware so the pieces don't knock against each other in the cupboard, as the glaze can get chipped or scratched over time.

Stoneware for the kitchen, dining table and kids' room

The wide range of stoneware means it can be used in almost any room in the home.

Stoneware in the kitchen

In the kitchen, jugs, dishes and jars in stoneware work both as practical items and as decoration on an open shelf. See also our range of stoneware jugs for more jugs in the material.

Stoneware on the dining table

Salt and pepper sets, egg cups and dishes in stoneware give the breakfast and dinner table personality. Quail's salt and pepper sets with dog motifs are perfect for everyday use, while &Klevering's fish dishes work well for a festive spread. See also our range of Quail salt and pepper.

Stoneware in the living room and on the shelf

Animal vases and candle holders in stoneware are decorative elements that work well on a shelving unit, windowsill or side table. Feel free to combine several animal vases from Quail to create a cohesive, playful composition.

Stoneware for the kids' room

Piggy banks and the more playful animal figures in stoneware are perfect for the kids' room, where they combine function with a colourful, animal-loving look.

Stoneware as a gift

Because the range is so broad, there's stoneware for almost any occasion. A single egg cup or piggy bank makes a small thoughtful gesture, while a whole salt and pepper set or a jug is a more considered gift for a housewarming, birthday or as a hostess gift. See also our range of hostess gifts for more ideas.

Brands behind the stoneware

The range brings together stoneware from several brands, each with its own look.

Quail

Quail is by far the most extensive brand in the range and is behind most of the animal vases, salt and pepper sets, egg cups, jugs and piggy banks in stoneware. What Quail's products have in common is detailed animal motifs with British character and flair.

Bloomingville

Bloomingville contributes cups, mugs and candle holders in a calmer, more Scandinavian design language, often in plain or lightly patterned versions.

&Klevering

&Klevering is behind several of the range's dishes, plates and jugs, often with fruit or sea motifs such as lemon, orange and fish, in a fresh, summery look.

Kersten

Kersten offers a smaller but characterful selection, including vases and a playful Fried Egg candle holder that adds a touch of humour to the range.

Creative Collection

Creative Collection contributes mainly with the Limone series: jars, jugs, bowls and a citrus press, all in a plain, citrus-inspired design.

Bloomingville MINI and other brands

Bloomingville MINI supplies smaller, more playful pieces such as the Sweets plate, while EJA and GiftCompany contribute a small selection of supplementary pieces to the range. Although these brands make up a smaller share of the total product count, they add nuances to the range that make it possible to find stoneware in almost any style, from playful and childlike to more refined and grown-up.

Which stoneware should you choose? Our recommendations

Situation	Our recommendation
Colourful eye-catcher on the shelf	An animal vase from Quail, e.g. giraffe or zebra
Everyday use on the dining table	A salt and pepper set from Quail with a dog motif
Playful detail for the breakfast table	An egg cup in an animal motif from Quail
Festive spread for guests	A fish or seafood dish from &Klevering
Calm, Scandinavian style	Cups or candle holders from Bloomingville
Gift for the kids' room	A piggy bank or small animal figure from Quail

Frequently asked questions about stoneware

What is stoneware, and how does it differ from other ceramics?

Stoneware is ceramic fired at a high temperature, which makes the material denser, harder and more durable than ordinary earthenware. This gives it a robust finish well suited to everyday use in the kitchen and on the dining table.

Is stoneware dishwasher-safe?

Most of the range's stoneware products are dishwasher-safe, but always check the individual item's description, especially if the piece has a hand-painted or detailed finish.

What animal motifs are found in the stoneware range?

Quail is behind most of the animal motifs, including cow, giraffe, zebra, koala, panda, hippo, pug, dachshund, westie and labrador, spread across vases, salt and pepper sets, egg cups, jugs and piggy banks.

Why do some pieces have variations in colour?

Several of the products are hand-painted, which gives natural variations in colour and detail from piece to piece. It's part of the handcrafted look and means no two pieces are ever completely identical.

Which brand is behind the most products in the stoneware range?

Quail is the most extensive brand and supplies most of the animal vases, salt and pepper sets, egg cups, jugs and piggy banks in stoneware.

Can I use stoneware jugs for hot liquid?

Stoneware generally handles both cold and hot liquids well, but avoid sudden temperature changes, such as pouring boiling water into a jug straight from the fridge, as this can cause cracks in the glaze.

Which stoneware suits the kids' room?

Piggy banks and playful animal figures from Quail, such as guinea pig, fox and badger, are perfect for the kids' room because they combine a colourful look with function.

Is stoneware a good gift idea?

Yes, a single piece such as an animal vase, an egg cup or a piggy bank is an easy and personal gift, while a whole salt and pepper set or a jug is a more considered gift for someone who loves colourful decor.

How do I clean hand-painted stoneware?

Wipe the piece with a soft, damp cloth, and avoid harsh cleaning products and scouring pads, which can wear down the hand-painted surface over time.

Where can I find stoneware mugs and stoneware candle holders specifically?

See our range under Stoneware mugs and Stoneware candle holders for a more targeted overview of these categories.

What's the difference between Quail and &Klevering in the range?

Quail works mainly with detailed animal motifs in vases, salt and pepper sets and egg cups, while &Klevering focuses more on fruit and sea motifs in dishes, plates and jugs. Both brands use stoneware as a running material, but with different worlds of motifs.

Can stoneware be stored outdoors?

Stoneware generally handles moisture well, but most of the products in the range are designed for indoor use. Avoid direct frost, as temperature swings can damage the glaze over time.