All Pots Are Not Alike — How Can You Tell If Pottery Is Handmade?

Have you ever picked up a piece of pottery and wondered, How can I tell if this pottery is handmade? When people talk about handmade pottery, they’re usually picturing a potter at the wheel. But there are various types of ceramics, and understanding the difference between wheel-thrown, handbuilt, and factory-made pottery helps you recognize the value and character of each.

Wheel-Thrown Pottery

Wheel-thrown pottery is formed on a spinning wheel, which creates round, symmetrical shapes. Look for subtle horizontal throwing lines, especially inside bowls or mugs, and slight variations in thickness. Even in balanced forms, there’s usually a softness that feels human rather than mechanical.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6Qi-gzQd4k

Francis DeFabo shows how he throws dimple sippers on the pottery wheel

Handbuilt Pottery

Handbuilt pottery is shaped without a wheel, using techniques like pinching, coiling, or slab construction. These pieces often feel more organic or sculptural. You might notice gentle asymmetry, faint joining lines, or edges that aren’t perfectly uniform. The individuality is part of the charm.

fdp Handbuilt Chocolate Spoon Serving Set

Slipcast and Ram Press Pottery

Slipcast pottery is made by pouring liquid clay into plaster molds. Once removed, you may find a fine seam line where the mold halves meet. Ram press pottery is created by pressing clay into molds, resulting in clean lines and consistent shapes. Both methods allow for repeatability and precision.

Handmade vs. Factory-Made Pottery

Factory-made ceramics are typically extremely uniform. Key giveaways include identical size, weight, glaze coverage, and perfectly smooth bases. Handmade pottery, by contrast, carries small variations: a slightly uneven foot, glaze that breaks differently at the edges, a surface that feels alive.

Those subtle differences are exactly why I love handmade pottery. I usually set my table with a mix of wheel-thrown and hand-built pieces, allowing symmetry to play off the organic forms.

Wheelthrown and Handbuilt fdp tableware, Drury blockened oak serving board, viintage tablecloth