HOW DO I USE & TAKE CARE OF MY WOODENWARE?

  1. Our woodenware is made to be used everyday. It will develop a patina over time like a well-loved cutting board. With proper care it should last for years. 

  2. Woodenware is suitable for both hot and cold foods, liquids, and alcohol. 

  3. Wood expands and contracts when moisture fluctuates in the environment. It’s best to use your woodenware often. Avoid extreme changes in moisture. Do not pour boiling water in a bone dry cup or bowl. Avoid leaving liquid in your woodenware overnight or soaking it for long periods.

  4. Wooden items can retain flavors so keep your coffee cup separate from your wine cup, and your chili bowl separate from your ice cream bowl.

  5. Hand wash your item with a soft sponge in hot soapy water, rinse, and dry in a dish rack upside down. Do not put in a dishwasher.

  6. Most of our woodenware is finished with with HASSUI CERAMIC, a silicon based food grade finish from Japan. To preserve the finish do not use abrasives or scrape with metalware. The finish can be renewed, go to the Hassui Ceramic product page for more information.

  7. We also apply non-toxic milk paint, earth pigments and food grade oil/beeswax finishes. If you see white bloom on milk painted items, rub with oil and the spots should fade.

  8. For details about urushi lacquered items, see A Note About Urushi Lacquer Finish section below.

  9. Do not use abrasives or metalware on urushi lacquered or milk painted surfaces.

  10. Each wooden item is unique. Turning marks, variations in grain, color, and shape are normal signs of a handmade object.

  11. On rare occasions, there can be anomalies in the wood beyond our control. Please see below for further information on replacements or returns.

BREAK IN YOUR WOODEN CUP

  1. To acclimate it to the humidity of your home environment, once or twice a day rinse the cup inside and out with tap water, then air dry. After a couple days it will be ready to use.

  2. Read and follow the tips above to increase the longevity of your cup.

REPLACEMENTs/RETURNS/exchanges

If your woodenware develops a crack or leak that makes it unusable within the first two weeks of purchase/delivery we will replace it. Please send a photo with your replacement request. Between two weeks and six months we can offer you 50% of the value of your woodenware toward a future purchase, except for items marked FINAL SALE. If you are unsatisfied with any wooden item or textile, you may return it in good condition within two weeks of purchase/delivery for a refund. Shipping and return shipping will not be refunded. HASSUI CERAMIC and tool sales are final. Please send us an email to begin the replacement/return process.

WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY ORDER?

In stock items are packed and shipped within a week of ordering. If you ordered a “made-to-order” item please allow 4-6 weeks delivery unless otherwise noted in the item description. Special orders have varying ship dates, refer to your correspondence for details. If we are traveling, you will be notified that your order’s shipment may be delayed.

SHIPPING

Items ship USPS Priority Mail and USPS Parcel Select Ground within the US and Global Post for international orders within one week of purchase, unless otherwise noted. Hassui Ceramic is shipped to US addresses only. Please refer to descriptions which note specific shipping timelines for made-to-order and special items. Customers receive an email with a tracking number when the item is shipped. We are not responsible for VAT or other charges that may affect international customers. Estimating shipping can be tricky. Please be assured that if you are over charged $5 or more on shipping, we will refund you the excess. Shipping costs include handling fees. Ashland, WI area locals or visitors can choose LOCAL PICK-UP under Order Options on Step 2 of checkout to avoid shipping fees.

 

A NOTE ABOUT URUSHI LACQUER Finish

Urushi Lacquer has been used for thousands of years in Asia. It may be the strongest most durable natural finish on the planet. It is resistant to high temperatures, strong acids, alcohol, and prevents mold and mildew. Urushi lacquer comes from the sap of the Urushi tree, in the same family as poison oak and ivy. Once cured the lacquer is inert, however, in rare cases a sensitive person may develop a mild rash from this finish. People who are sensitive to urushiol should use caution. We received instruction in the application and curing of urushi lacquer from Madoka Kutsuwa in Japan.

This article from urushinoippo.com is meant to encourage children’s use of lacquerware and explains the process of making urushi and the cultural significance of lacquerware in Japan.

Care for Lacquerware:

  1. Do not pour boiling water in lacquerware.

  2. Do not leave lacquerware soaking in water.

  3. Wash by hand with a soft sponge. Hot water and soap are fine.

  4. Metal utensils will scratch the lacquer surface.

  5. Avoid placing lacquerware in direct sunlight.

  6. If you mind the smell of Urushi, leave lacquerware in a well ventilated place for one month.