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Italian Arthouse Ceramics





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FAQs

1. About our handmade Italian goodsTop
Are all thatsArte.com ceramics handmade in Italy?
Yes. All our artistic ceramics are hand thrown on a wheel or hand-shaped using a handmade mold, then they are hand-painted. Some tiles and most plates are exceptions: they are still hand-painted but must be pressed to maintain uniformity. All the pottery production process of the artists we’ve selected is made in Italy, as marked underglaze on the bottom of each item.

Is my Italian pottery food safe?

All Italian dinnerware, serveware, and kitchenware at thatsArte.com are guaranteed to be 100% food safe. They are in compliance with FDA standards and the U.S. import regulations for lead and cadmium.

Italian decorative ceramics, tiles, and favors are not meant to have contact with food unless otherwise specified.


What does crazing mean?
With time and repeated use majolica has a tendency to craze (forming minuscule lines in the glazing). The crazing result is the nature of majolica and has no significant effect on ceramics. If you want to slow down the process, handle your pieces carefully, and temper them when serving very hot foods.

Can I put my Italian decorative pottery outside?

The colors are permanently glazed on, so sun fading is not an issue. Depending on how thick is the item, resistance to chips and cracks varies. In extremely cold regions (i.e.: below 0s Fahrenheit) these items should be brought in during winter.

A little frost or a blanket of snow is not harmful in any way.


With average everyday usage, how long will my Italian pottery last?
With proper care and handling your pottery will retain its beauty and function for decades.

Can I clean my Italian Tableware in a dishwasher?
Yes, you can, although we tend to recommend hand washing and drying as you would fine china. If you want to use your automatic dishwasher, we recommend using a fine china cycle, low heat, and a good quality detergent. And it is better to place the plates or ceramic accessories far apart to avoid touching each other during the dishwashing cycle.

What do you mean when you ask me to “temper” my Italian Tableware?

Tempering means gently warming your ceramics to avoid thermal shock, which can result in cracking or in excessive glaze crackling (crazing).

The best way to temper a piece of ceramic is to put it under hot tap water before serving very hot foods or liquids. You can also put a metal spoon in your ceramic while pouring a hot liquid to deflect the heat. Crazing has no significant effects on ceramics, it is mainly cosmetic.


Can I put my Italian ceramics into the oven or the microwave?
It’s better not to. In principle, they can stand high temperatures. However, the risk of cracking or chipping your piece when very hot and unevenly covered with food is real. Our Italian dinnerware and serveware are not meant to be used for cooking or re-heating.

Can I cook or bake into my Italian ceramics?
No, you can’t. Our pottery, with the exception of clay pots, is not meant to be used for cooking or backing.

How can I take away encrusted food and stains from my Italian tableware?

Soak your ceramics in soapy, lukewarm water for a few moments, and use a plastic scrubber for the worst bits. To remove tea stains in cups use a solution of 2 tablespoons chlorine bleach per quart of water; soak 1-2 minutes; rinse promptly. Black marks left by tarnished cutlery can be removed from pottery with good quality, non-abrasive metal cleaner.

Never use scouring powders or harsh scourers on Italian pottery as they will damage the glaze.


Is my Italian pottery scratchproof?
Although extremely hard, all glazes are susceptible to scratching by harder substances. Scratches found inside ware are frequently caused by gemstones in rings. Very sharp knives, even though they are made from metal that is softer than the glaze, can scratch the glaze when excessive pressure is exerted.

Why are the Italian pottery pieces I ordered slightly different from the images on thatsArte.com?

Since every piece of our Italian ceramics is handmade, it is impossible for each item to be identical... that’s the wonderful nature of handcrafted work!

Actual colors may differ from what you see on your computer screen since each piece is unique. This is the highly desirable side effect of handmade items! Additionally, different computer screens reproduce colors in different ways. Some of our decoration products are hand finished with an “Antique patina”, which features heavily distressed glazing, very often with evident glaze smudges and splits. This is a valuable characteristic of some regional pieces and a considerable part of their premium value. It definitely cannot be considered a manufacturing defect!

Slight changes in the size or shape of the items is also a result of their being totally handmade, either thrown on a wheel or slip cast. Plates are an exception: they are usually pressed to obtain regular shapes and sizes.

The amount of decoration on a piece is related to its size. The bigger the size, the richer its decoration. Most of thatsArte.com photos are taken from medium-sized pieces. On occasion, you may notice a slight indentation, design or glaze variation, or perhaps a tiny smudge, a small dimple, a paint spot, or a loose-fitting lid. These variances and imperfections are not considered manufacturing defects. They are evidence of original, handcrafted artwork.

If a product purchased at thatsArte.com is not in line with your expectations, you can return it in unused condition. For more info, please view our Return Policy .


What sort of glue can I use to stick a handle back on?
From a safety aspect, we recommend that broken handles, especially on ware that is likely to hold hot liquids, are not repaired. There is no glue available that is as strong as the original ceramic and any glue, especially when heated, is likely to fail at some time.

Can I purchase matching table linens at different times?
We recommend purchasing matching items of a particular collection (for example tablecloth and napkins) at the same time, because the color of the yarn may vary slightly from batch to batch.

How can I find out about thatsArte.com new products?

You can join our Mailing List and we’ll keep you posted on new products and special offers.


Do you publish a print catalog of your products?
No, we continuously add new products and new services to our website. A print catalog would rapidly go out of date. Additionally, we already have more than 5,000 products: a web catalog is much more useful and versatile for such a large assortment!
2. Orders and paymentsTop
Do I need to register to place an order?

No, you don’t. You can place your order as a guest, and the personal information you are requested to provide us with will solely be used to deliver your order.

However, we recommend you to create an account on thatsArte.com in order to be able to use our additional services:
- see your order status and a complete history of all orders made while signed
- create a wishlist of things you can't wait to have and share it with your friends and family
- save your billing and shipping information - you won't ever need to re-enter your information

Create your account now


I need some time to refine my order. How can save the items I wish to purchase?

Create your account on thatsArte.com and choose between two options:
1 – add all the items to your cart. They’ll still be there the next time you log in
2 – add all the items to your wishlist and they’ll be there as long as you wish.

You’ll have the additional benefit of being able to share your list with your dearest ones and ask for advice!


How can I send a gift from thatsArte.com?
It’s easy. Fill in the billing form with your personal info. If you wish you can add a message for the recipient in the relevant box. Now fill in the shipping form with the info of your gift recipient. That’s all we need to ship your gift, complete with your message.

Can I customize my purchase?

We offer a Free Personalization service on all our handmade Italian ceramics. The other goods cannot be personalized, if not otherwise stated.

We also offer a special order service for Bespoke Goods.


How do I know that you are a trusted website?

Our identity is certified by Let's Encrypt, a certificate authority (CA), run for the public’s benefit. It is a service provided by the Internet Security Research Group (ISRG).


How is my personal information protected?

Your personal information is stored in our secure databases and is only accessible to a limited number of employees who have special access rights to those systems.

To know more, view our Privacy Policy.


How can I pay for my order?

We accept most major credit cards for transactions in US Dollars, Euro and British Pounds. You can pay with your credit card directly, or use the Paypal payment option. You don’t need to be a PayPal member to use their payment services.

For more info visit our How to Order page.


How are my credit card payments protected?

We use a certificate issued by Let's Encrypt, a certificate authority by the Internet Security Research Group (ISRG) that protects the operations of over 260M websites worldwide, thus creating a more secure and privacy-respecting Web.

The certificate protects the credit card data submitted to thatsArte.com through the use of encryption. Should any information be intercepted, it will be unintelligible without the unique key used for decryption. We do not store your credit card information on our servers. Your payment is processed by STRIPE.


When is my credit card charged?

Payment is debited from your card when the order is confirmed.

For more info visit our How to Order page.


What if I do not want to use my credit card to make payments online?
Using your credit card with a secure web site is probably safer than handing it to a waiter at a restaurant. Still, we respect your feelings. You can pay your order through Paypal or, if you’re concerned about any payment over the Internet, contact us mentioning the items you wish to purchase. We’ll be happy to offer you alternative payment options, like fax or phone or bank wire.

Do you ship to destinations outside the United States?

We currently ship to the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States.

For more info view our Shipping Policy.


How long will it take to receive my order?

If your items are in stock, we will ship them out right away. If they are not in stock, the lead time depends on the artists you have chosen.

Artists have different production lead times: always check them on the product page.

For more info view our Shipping Policy.


How do I track my order?

When your order ships, we’ll send you an email with your tracking information, so you can follow your order’s progress all the way to the shipping address you have provided.

If you have an account at thatsArte.com you can log in any time to check the status of your order and track your shipment.

For more info read our Shipping Policy.

3. Shipping charges and other feesTop
Since you are based in Italy, do I have to pay Customs Fees?

thatsArte.com strictly applies a “no surprise at delivery” policy. All you need to pay for your handmade Italian goods is ALWAYS in the bottom line of the order review page.

No Customs duties and fees are due for shipments to the US, Australia, UK, and European Union member countries. A contribution to the Customs duties and fees and local taxes are due for shipments to all the other countries.

For orders over $2500 shipped to the USA, the carrier may ask you to fill in a Formal Entry form with your personal information, including either the EIN/tax identification number assigned by the IRS or your social security number. It is a standard procedure required by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) when an individual or company purchases goods from an overseas supplier. Filing the form doesn't imply you will be charged for Customs duties and fees: they are always on us.


Do I have to pay a US Sales Tax?
You may be asked to pay the sales tax by your local authority.

Is my shipment insured?
Yes. All our shipments are fully insured.
4. Returns and refundsTop
Can I return my purchase if I’m not fully satisfied?

Yes, you can. We do want you to be fully happy with your purchase. If for any reason you are less than fully satisfied, you can return your purchase to us in its original condition within 10 days of the purchase delivery date.
For more info view our Return Policy .


Will you refund me if I’m not satisfied with my purchase?

Yes, we will. Our Return and refund policy apply to all the items in our online catalog that have not been personalized or made-to-order for you (Bespoke Goods)

You are free to exchange your product with another one, to ask for a store credit or a full reimbursement of your purchase.

For more info and to learn how to apply for a refund view our Return Policy.


Can I return only one piece and keep the other ones I purchased in the same order?
Of course, you can. You can return one or more pieces and keep the others.

Can I return a personalized piece or a bespoke good?

No, you can’t. Personalized ceramics and special orders will be fully reimbursed only if damaged or incorrect.

For more info view our Return Policy.


What do I do if an item is damaged when I receive it?

In case of a damaged item, you’re entitled to have a new item shipped, store credit, or the full reimbursement of the original price, including the shipping charges. To apply for your favorite option, please follow the simple steps listed below:

- please inform immediately UPS of the damage by checking the Customer Service contacts at www.ups.com and quoting the shipment reference number. Please keep the original packing material for a possible UPS inspection;

- contact us within 24 hours of merchandise arrival, mentioning your Name, Order Number, the Product Code, or description of the damaged items and attaching detailed pictures of the damaged items and of the packing material;

- do not ship the damaged items back to us until we give you proper instructions.

Once these steps are taken, you can choose the refund option that better suits your needs.

A good practice to speed up a refund process is to inspect all deliveries upon arrival if possible, and make written exceptions on the Delivery Receipt of every discrepancy or irregularity. Please, sign always the delivery receipt “subject to inspection for concealed damage”.

To know more, view our Return Policy.


What do I do if an item is incorrect when I receive it?

Our return policy applies to all incorrect purchases from thatsArte.com. You can return your purchase in exchange for other items or ask for a store credit or a full reimbursement of the original price, including the shipping charges.

To know more, view our Return Policy.

Our goal is to offer the most comprehensive FAQ page. If your question is not answered here, please, contact us.