I do all I can in my work to marry the two ideals of beauty and functionality. As a result, every piece of JMA tableware is not only lovely to see and feel, but also practical for modern home life. I have attempted with this FAQ page to answer any questions you may have about the use and care of JMA pieces. If, after reading this information, you still have questions regarding my work, please contact me via the email icon at the bottom of this page. Thank you, and may you and yours be well.
- Jackie
Are JMA pieces dishwasher safe?
I test every piece I make by running it through a sterilizing cycle in my home dishwasher. This is the hottest setting available, and gives, I think, a reliable indication of how well a piece will fair in any comparable machine. Clay, glaze, and design choices are all made with ease of cleaning in mind, and I personally wash my own handmade work at home in my dishwasher daily. I would, however, caution that the dishwasher is only as safe as how it is loaded. Any ceramic item could potentially chip or crack if positioned poorly in the dishwasher or if allowed to bang against another piece near by. For these reasons, although dishwashing is safe for your JMA pieces, hand washing may be the preferred method for guaranteeing the life of your tableware. If, at any time, you notice small cracks developing in the glazed surface of any of your JMA wares, please discontinue use of the piece and contact me via email. These cracks, referred to as “crazing”, may develop over long periods of repeated exposure to extreme temperature changes. As there is no means by which I can currently test JMA glazes over hundreds of wash cycles, I cannot know in advance if crazing will eventually take place. However, please know that any crazing in a JMA piece is an indication that the work is faulty, and I will happily replace any crazed piece with a comparable item at no cost to you.
Can I microwave JMA pieces?
J. Morgan Atelier pieces are microwave-friendly, but may get hot to the touch if heated in a microwave without sufficient food or liquid. Please exercise caution when removing our ceramic pieces from any microwave oven and avoid overheating the wares. Also, please note that ceramic will conduct heat, and any ceramic surface that directly contacts hot food or drink will be quite hot to the touch itself.
Can JMA items be heated in the oven?
Theoretically, all our tableware is oven safe. However, to prolong the life of your JMA investment, repeated heating in an oven hotter than a low warming temp (325ºF or less) is not recommended.
Can I use JMA pieces on the stovetop?
No ceramic work should be used in direct contact with either an electric or flame heat source such as a stove top. Similarly, JMA tableware cannot be heated over a campfire or open flame of any kind. This is because direct heat causes only one portion of the piece to very rapidly absorb the heat while other portions remain cool, causing stress to the structure and increasing the likelihood of damage to the piece.
Can acidic foods damage my pieces?
Before approving glazes for JMA production, I test each one with an overnight lemon juice soak. If any discoloration results, I do not use that glaze for any surfaces that come into direct contact with food or drink. Despite this stringent testing, please note that no handcrafted ceramic ware should be exposed to acidic or easily staining foods (berries, wine, coffee, tea, etc.) for extended periods of time. This is simply to ensure that your JMA pieces remain in the best condition for the longest life possible.