Mosaic materials tips on how to shop smartly for crockery

One of the parts I enjoy most about mosaics, is knowing I am recycling materials. Yes, using crockery and plates for mosaics. I am turning once loved plates into fabulous pieces of art which were once discarded, broken, or chipped . Which leaves me feeling pretty good! But there are a few helpful tips you can follow when shopping for crockery for mosaics.

Since taking up mosaics I have become quite the avid shopper in second hand stores. In doing so, through trial and error, I have learnt which types of plates are great, and which are not.

Walking through these stores (and sometimes markets), I have learned to rummage, pickup and inspect, read the print on the back, and check for thickness. Something I never used to do when I was simply using crockery for eating food.

What to check for when using crockery and plates

Tip 1.  White is available in many colours!

Pre mosaics I thought all white plates, were the same white. No. Just like paint colours, white plates come in many different variations. As a consumer of food using a white plate, this does not really matter, but up close for the purpose of mosaics, it does.

Amongst other helpful tips is when shopping for plates for your mosaics, is to make sure you separate your white colours at home when cutting up plates. In the beginning, before I had a lot of stock, I (mistakenly) put all white coloured plates in the one container.

I soon learnt not to do this as I spent a lot of time finding my “matching” white plates.

Tip 2.  Check the thickness of the plate

Unless you have very strong hands, a hardwearing cutting tool or are going with the smash in a pillowcase method of cutting up your plates, aim for the less thick plate.

Having said that, when buying plates and crockery which are in one piece (and most of them are!), it can be tricky sometimes to work out how thick a plate is. The more you buy plates the more knowledgeable you become. Yes, it can seem a little weird to be standing in store feeling and looking at the thickness of a plate, but it does pay off when you get it home.

Everyone is susceptible to loving the colour or pattern on a plate. I know I am, but it is important to think ahead and work out if it is worth the effort. Having a thick plate can also make it difficult to match your design with other thicknesses if you wish everything to be the same height.

Tip 3.  Look where the lip of the plate falls with the pattern

Sometimes when considering a plate, it will be the design or pattern which attracts your eye first. While this is great, first check underneath the plate that the pattern or design is not on lip of the plate between the main dish and the edge.

Depending upon the plate, this can be the thickest part and therefore very difficult to use. Particularly challenging if you need to make a cut.

It is preferable to leave enough space between the design on the edge of the plate and the main part of the plate to be able to make the cut easily.

Tip 4.  Try not to buy Stoneware

Some people may love using stoneware plates, (they have a lovely rustic appearance), however they are generally quite difficult to cut for mosaic projects. When cutting it may shatter or give very uneven/jagged lines.

Stoneware is thicker in construction and material makeup than porcelain and china. It is a type of dinnerware made from stoneware clay, is fired at a higher temperature and can have a glazed matte or glossy finish.

Tip 5.  Using all parts of the plate

Something I only recently discovered when admiring someone else’s mosaic artwork. For plates with the curved based underneath, this actually makes for a good effect in highlighting curved aspects, especially when working with features for animals.

Similarly, when the lip of the plate has a curve, you can use these as small pieces. Or, if you are feeling creative, you can make use of the curve to create a flower petal.

Tip 6.  There are many different types of ceramics (some not so good)

There may be times when you buy what you think is a good piece of crockery for mosaics, only to get home, cut it and it shatters. I have had this happen many times. Sometimes there are small pieces from the plate which may be salvageable, but generally it all just goes straight to the bin. Closer inspection has shown the plate to be chalky in make up and not of good quality.

Just take heart that you didn’t pay much for the plate and move onto your next find. You can always make use of these helpful shopping tips for mosaics next time.

Tip 7.  Hidden mosaic benefit

What you don’t realise when you begin mosaics and start using everyday crockery and plates is an obsession seems to begin.

Dinning in restaurants and cafes takes on a whole new spin. As you are eating your food, you are instantly assessing the plate. Is the design useable? The colour? The pattern? The thickness? What would you make with the plate?

You learn very quickly which plates would make excellent mosaic material! I just think of it as a mosaic learning curve. An exposure to new colours, textures, and designs which you might not have ever experienced before.

Making artwork out of ceramics and plates just became a whole lot more satisfying.