Questions
Questions about the work
A few honest answers about buying and living with one-of-one handmade ceramics. For anything not covered here, write to the studio.
Is each piece one of a kind?
Yes. Every piece is thrown and finished by hand as a one-of-one object — never cast, never part of a repeated production run. Small differences in form, weight, and glaze are inherent to the work, and no two pieces are identical. Each is recorded in the studio's registry with its own number.
What makes a handmade ceramic piece collectible?
A piece holds its value through the maker's hand, the materials and firing behind it, and the fact that it cannot be exactly repeated. Provenance matters too: work that is documented, numbered, and traceable to its maker is easier to trust and to keep. These pieces are stoneware, made individually in Iceland by a third-generation ceramic artist, and each carries its own record.
How is each piece documented?
Every piece is entered in the Matiass Preiss Piece Registry with its serial number, collection, clay body, glaze, firing notes, dimensions, and photographs. Once a piece sells it is not removed — it moves to the sold archive and stays part of the permanent record, so its history remains verifiable.
Are the pieces made for daily use?
Yes. The work is functional stoneware — cups, yunomi, tea bowls, and vessels fired high, with food-safe functional glazes made for everyday tea, coffee, and food. These are objects to be used, not only displayed. Guidance on living with them is in the care guide.
Do you ship worldwide?
Yes. Pieces ship from Iceland, packed by hand and double-boxed for ceramic transport. Available destinations and exact shipping costs are shown at checkout, calculated by destination and weight before you pay. If a country is not offered, the studio can usually arrange it by email.
Can I commission a piece?
Commissions are considered on a limited basis. Because the work is slow and made in small groups, timelines depend on the studio's current schedule. Write to the studio with what you have in mind and it will be answered personally.
How do I know a piece is authentic?
Each piece is signed on the foot and carries a registry number that can be looked up in the Piece Registry, where its record and photographs are held. The registry is the studio's own permanent documentation of every piece it has made.
See available work in the current collection, look up a piece in the Piece Registry, ask about a private commission, or read the studio story.