Buying handmade ceramics can feel a little daunting when you’re surrounded by beautiful pieces and don’t know where to start.

The simplest answer is: buy something you love and will actually use.

Look closely at the surface. Pick it up. Feel its weight. Look at the glaze and the small details that make it different from something mass-produced.

If you’re buying something functional, it’s perfectly reasonable to ask the maker about how it should be used and cared for — particularly if you’re wondering about dishwashers, microwaves or food use.

And don’t be afraid to ask about the piece itself. Where was the idea from? How was it made? What clay was used?

One of the lovely things about buying directly from a maker is that you get the story as well as the object.

You don’t need to know all the terminology or understand every ceramic technique.

If it makes you stop, pick it up and think “I love this” — you’ve probably found something worth taking home.