Pottery That Sells Well – 9 Pieces All Potters Should Make and Sell

You want to start making some money from your newfound Pottery Making Hobby.
Or you at least would like to break even so you can continue making more pieces.
You’re wondering about pottery that sells well. I’m going to show you the 9 pieces that sell well and that most potters can make on a consistent basis. Let’s take a look at each one.

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#1: Handcrafted Mugs

Most potters who turned their hobby into a business will tell you that the smaller pieces make up the lion’s share of their profits. This means selling something like handcrafted mugs.

You will charge between $10 to $30 for pieces like this, but you may find that it sells best at between $10 to $12. They don’t cost too much, which makes it less of a commitment for buyers. People even get excited about buying mugs, especially if you can make the right design.

They want to have the mug that everyone else envies. People especially go wild over handcrafted mugs because it adds a uniqueness that you can’t get with a regular cup. Everyone feels so used to the standard and generic mugs on the market, which makes handcrafted mugs even more popular.

Expert Tip: Much of the pricing comes down to the quality of the work. Good craftsmanship mugs will sell for more. If you find that your handcrafted mugs sell well at $10 to $15, up it to $25. Experiment and explore the prices until you find what works best. Keep in mind prices are subjective and can vary greatly depending on supply and demand.

Many potters report handcrafted mugs as their biggest sellers, but you may want to experiment. Handcrafted mugs give you a good place to start because a lot of potters have had luck with them.

#2: Bowls

Another hot item for ceramics artists to make easily are bowls, and they sell well too. Bowls sell well because of the utility behind them. You can use them for a variety of things like:

• Cereals
• Soups
• Salads
• Pastas

Having a handmade bowl with a unique design attracts customers who love the uniqueness of it. Bowls can also make a nice decorative piece in the home. Add a touch of fun and personality to the piece to make it shine and stand out.

The average cost on Etsy for a pottery bowl is $32.22. You can charge anywhere from $20 to $50 for an average size bowl, but you will find that they sell best at around $30. Of course, depending on your bowl’s size and detail work, you can go as low as $10 for small bowls and over $100 for big bowls.

To learn more about selling online, go to –Selling Your Pottery Online

#3: Soap Dishes

Soap dishes can be interesting in that you can do a lot of cool things with the design. They were meant to look stylish. At the same time, soap dishes can be made from a variety of clays like porcelain, earthenware, stoneware and ball clay. Each will give your piece its own unique look.

This ceramic piece gives you a lot of opportunities to stay creative in the creation of it. You will charge anywhere from $15 up to $50 for a soap dish, but they sell best at the $20 mark. Keep in mind, where to price your ceramic goods will depend on where you sell. In some places, some items will sell better at a higher price than others. 

#4: Spoon Rests

You may want to make your spoon rests from stoneware clay because it’s a good durable clay. After choosing a clay, you will want to pick a design that helps it sell well. Spoon rests sell well because of the practicality of this piece. During the process of cooking, you have a sanitary place to rest your cooking utensils without them getting dirty.

Some people have used spoon rests on a buffet table to keep the utensils in good condition. You will usually want to charge between $12 to $23 for ceramic pieces like spoon rests. Some people have used spoon rests as a decorative accent to the stove, such as placing it under the spice rack. Like many of the other pieces on this list, Spoon rests are smaller, and they sell well because it doesn’t require as much commitment.

#5: Sponge Holders

Every home needs a sponge holder, and the more stylish homes will look for sponge holders with personality. Having a cool sponge holder in the home can add to the atmosphere of the room. They usually sell for between $15 to $35, depending on how much work you put into it (how to decorate it). You may find that your sponge holder will sell best at $22. Experiment with the pricing to learn how to make the most of your ceramics.

Expert Tip: With a sponge holder, before you make this or the other items that involve water, keep in mind that you want to have an area where the water drains. This keeps your kitchen counters sanitary. Mold and bacteria can start to form in standing water in as little as 48 hours. If someone buys a piece like this off you and they don’t see a drainage point for the water, they may think of you as an amateur.

Having a stylish sponge holder in the kitchen can add to the atmosphere. With any piece requested as custom work, charge extra for it.

#6: Vases

One of the ceramic pieces that many people go bonkers over are vases. They sell well because of the decorations and the ability to use them as a flower holder. The cool thing about vases is that it gives you the chance to wave your artistic wand of magic over them. You can express more of your creativity with ceramic vases.

Some people look for vases because they want them to become the cornerstone piece and conversation starter in the home. Depending on the size, you can charge a little or a lot for vases. The one thing to keep in mind, vases will sell well according to the price. For a Bud Vase, you might charge $29, and $79 for a medium-sized vase, and you will charge around $133 for a large vase.

When people buy vases, they often do it for decorative purposes, which could mean that they don’t sell as well as some of the other choices on this list.

#7: Teacups

Not only do teacups sell well, but you can sell them for more than some of the other ceramic wares. As any tea connoisseur will tell you, tea tastes its best from a proper teacup. The proper pricing for teacups will range anywhere from $20 to $120, but you may want to start on the lower end and see how well it sells. This may not be the hottest selling item on the market, but it can do well if you find the right place to sell it.

You have many options for creativity as well when it comes to teacups. The right teacup can prove integral to the almost-sacred experience of drinking tea.

#8: Plant Pots

Another one of the realms where your creativity will sell well is to make a living off selling artistic plant pots if you know how to start. You will usually charge anywhere from $25 to $50 for plant pottery. It sells well, and it sells quickly. You can also sell succulent plant holders anywhere from $10 to $30. The cool thing about selling this type of pottery comes from how you can sell more creative pots and still come out well.

The colorful Glaze Choices will often perform well in this realm. It’s easy to find the right people for it. You can make standard pots as well, and they still come out well because many people just want a simple pot to put their flowers in.

For more detailed information on selling your pottery, check out – How to Make a Living Selling Pottery

#9: Plates

You can do this part-time or full-time and make a good business out of selling plates alone. This choice never goes out of style, and people always want to buy more plates. They either want to upgrade from an old set or buy a new set to give them extras. You may want to only sell it as a separate piece rather than a set in some cases.

Expert Tip: During the holiday season, you have people who want to add an extra plate to the dinner table because they have one extra person. They may not want the whole set. Because of this, you may find it advantageous to sell plates as separate pieces, along with sets. This meets the needs of a person who may only want one or two extra plates, but it leaves you room to still sell sets.

Because of the Cost of Making Pottery, plates will range in price from $10 to $50, depending on the design and number.

 Conclusion

Especially if you find the right market for it, pottery sells incredibly well. You may want to add colorful Glazes to Your Pottery because this adds a finished look to it that draws the eye. When you ship pottery to a buyer, make sure that you package it well, not a bubble mailer. You don’t want to sell a piece only to learn that it shattered on its way to delivery.