What Are Seconds and Overstock?

You see, not every ceramic piece that comes out of our kiln is destined for a restaurant or dinner party. Some pieces—our Seconds & Overstock—have a story of their own. And lucky for you, they’re looking for a good home.

What exactly are seconds? And why do we have overstock? Let’s dive into the perfectly imperfect world of handmade ceramics, the mystery of the kiln, and how we embrace zero waste while giving these beauties a second chance. 

What Are Seconds? (Or, The Curious Case of the Quirky Plate)

In our Journey of a Plate blog post ([link to the article]), we talk about how fire transforms raw clay into a finished piece. But fire is unpredictable. Every kiln firing is an experiment—flames dance, glaze shifts, and sometimes, pieces emerge looking slightly different than expected.

What Makes a Piece a Second?

A second is a piece that has a small flaw—maybe a tiny glaze variation, a superficial crack, or a slightly uneven shape. These quirks don’t affect function. 

What do you get with a second? 

✔️ Fully functional, dishwasher & microwave safe pieces

✔️ One-of-a-kind character 

✔️ A serious discount (because who doesn’t love a bargain?)

We believe in perfectly imperfect ceramics—pieces that tell a story, shaped by fire and crafted by hand.  We love them, and we think you will too.

What Is Restaurant Overstock? (AKA, The VIP Extras)

As you may know, we create custom pieces for some of the best restaurants in the world. For every big order, we make extra plates just in case a restaurant needs replacements or wants to expand their set.

Once a restaurant order is complete, we often have overstock—extra plates, bowls, or mugs that didn’t make it to the final set but are still restaurant-quality. Since our shelves fill up fast, we need to clear space for the next round of orders. That’s where you come in!

You get the same craftsmanship we make for Michelin-starred chefs, but at a fraction of the cost. Lucky you. 

Why Do We Do It? The Mystery of the Kiln & Zero Waste

Ah, the kiln. A beast of fire and unpredictability. Every time we load it up, we hold our breath. Will the glaze dance beautifully across the surface? Will a speck of dust decide to land at just the wrong moment? Will one bowl sit just a hair too close to another, fusing them together in eternal pottery matrimony?

It’s all part of the magic—and the madness. And instead of letting these pieces go to waste, we give them a second chance.

By shopping Seconds & Overstock, you’re helping us

• Reduce waste and keep perfectly good ceramics out of the discard pile

• Celebrate the quirks of handmade work 

• Offer high-quality, handcrafted pieces at a fraction of the price

Where Can You Buy Seconds & Overstock?

We release seconds and overstock in two ways:

1️⃣ In-Person Studio Sales – Once our shelves are full, we open up our Tarrytown studio for an in-person shopping event. These sales happen a few times a year and are the best way to see, touch, and pick out the perfect piece.

2️⃣ Online Seconds Sale – When we have extra time, we launch a seconds sale on our website. These sales happen unexpectedly, so the best way to know about them is to sign up for our mailing list!

A Second Chance for a Special Plate

So, whether you’re looking for a gorgeous handmade piece at a discount or you just love the thrill of the hunt, our Seconds & Overstock Sales are the place to be. Because in the world of handmade ceramics, imperfection isn’t a flaw—it’s a story.

And trust us, these plates have some great ones to tell.

Don’t Miss the Next Sale!

Want to be the first to know when our shelves fill up? Sign up for our mailing list to get an invite to our next sale. These pieces go fast—once they’re gone, they’re gone!