Questions & Answers
Each piece goes through several stages: throwing or hand-building, drying, bisque firing, glazing, and a final high-temperature firing. Depending on the size and complexity, a single vase can take anywhere from two to four weeks from start to finish. This is why each item is truly one of a kind.
Most of my stoneware pieces are dishwasher safe, but I always recommend hand washing to preserve the integrity of the glazes, especially on pieces with matte or textured surfaces. Microwaving is fine for most items, though I advise against it for pieces with metallic or gold accents.
Yes, I regularly collaborate with interior designers and architects on custom projects. Whether you need a set of sculptural vases for a hotel lobby or a bespoke tableware collection for a restaurant, I can work with you to develop pieces that fit your space and aesthetic. Please reach out through the contact page to discuss your project.
The studio is open by appointment only. This allows me to give you my full attention and show you the current collection, including pieces that are not yet listed online. You can also see the kiln, the glazing area, and get a sense of how everything is made. To schedule a visit, simply send an email or give me a call.
Numbered editions are limited runs of a specific design, usually no more than 12 pieces. They share the same form and glaze palette, but each one still has slight variations due to the handmade process. Unique pieces are one-off creations that will never be repeated. Both are signed and dated on the base.
Yes, I run small hands-on workshops where you can learn the basics of throwing on the wheel. Classes are limited to four people to ensure plenty of individual guidance. You will leave with at least one finished piece, glazed and fired by me after the session. Check the workshops section for upcoming dates.
Our Mission
Lucile Christmann is a studio practice rooted in the belief that a handmade object carries more than function — it holds the rhythm of the hands that shaped it, the patience of the kiln, and the quiet character of the landscape it came from. Every piece begins as raw clay and ends as a vessel for everyday rituals, designed to be lived with, touched, and passed on.
Working primarily in high-fired stoneware, I develop my own glazes from mineral oxides and local ash. The results are surfaces that shift with the light — sometimes glossy and deep, sometimes dry and granular. This is not production pottery. It is a slow, deliberate process that prioritizes integrity over volume.
Each vase, bowl, and table piece is thrown or hand-built in the studio. No molds, no shortcuts. The wheel, the ribs, and the fingertips leave their trace on every surface.
Glazes are mixed in small batches, drawing on iron, manganese, and ash to create earthy tones — terracotta, sand, charcoal, and soft ochre — that echo the South African landscape.
Fired at high temperatures for durability, these are pieces meant for daily use — not display-only objects. They are built to withstand the dishwasher, the table, and the years.
The Story
Lucile Christmann began with a single wheel and a kiln shared with a friend. What started as experiments with local clays and ash glazes slowly became a practice defined by patience, place, and the quiet rhythm of making by hand.
2016
A secondhand electric kiln and a borrowed corner of a friend's garage. The first firings were uneven, often disappointing, but they taught the value of testing and keeping careful notes on every glaze batch.
2019
Relocating to KwaZulu-Natal brought new materials and a different light. The studio shifted from functional tableware toward sculptural vases and vessels, inspired by the eroded hills and dry riverbeds of the Karoo.
2023
A decision to limit each series to a small number of pieces, each signed and numbered. This shift allowed for deeper experimentation with ash glazes and gave collectors a clearer sense of the studio's evolving voice.
8
Years of continuous studio practice
12
Glaze tests documented each season
40+
Workshops taught to beginners and hobbyists
3
Numbered editions released to date