Frequently Asked Questions
ORDERS & WEBSHOP
Unfortunately, no. As an e-shop, and due to the handmade nature of Ondou works — where each piece is slightly different — it is not possible to offer personal selection of individual items. However, if you order multiple items from the same series, I will do my best to select pieces that complement each other whenever possible.
Orders placed through the webshop are paid by card at checkout. Made-to-order and custom orders are paid by bank transfer. Payment details are sent by email together with the invoice.
Yes, as long as it hasn’t been shipped yet. Please write to info@ondoustudio.com as soon as possible, including your order number. Once the parcel is on its way, it can no longer be changed.
Each piece is shaped slowly, by hand, and leaves the studio carefully packed. Because of this, I kindly ask you to choose with intention: read the descriptions, look closely at the photos, and remember that every piece will differ slightly from the one pictured.
The full terms for returns are on the Return Policy page.
This can’t be specified, as the rhythm of the studio shifts — some periods are dedicated to developing new pieces, and others to making small batches of existing designs. Updates about upcoming restocks are usually shared on Instagram, so that’s the best place to follow. You can also subscribe to the newsletter, as subscribers are notified before a shop update goes live.
Most available pieces are added to the shop, but you’re always welcome to double-check via email or Instagram message.
Yes and no. If the piece is not marked as a limited edition, it may eventually be restocked. However, since all items are produced in small batches and each batch can vary, it is not guaranteed that the next batch will be exactly the same as the previous one. If you’d rather not wait, a similar piece can be made to order — see below.
Made-to-order means a piece is made especially for you, after you place an order, rather than taken from existing stock. It is a way to have a piece from a sold-out series made again. Availability depends on the currently available materials.
Since every piece is carved by hand and every firing is a little different, yours will be close to the one you saw, but not identical. Form, surface and glaze may vary slightly. Pieces decorated with wild clay can vary even more. This is the nature of the work.
For something entirely new, such as a different form, glaze, size please see Do you take individual custom orders? below.
Write to info@ondoustudio.com with the name/number of the piece, and I will confirm availability, price and timing.
Work begins once payment is received. Lead time depends on my schedule, but usually takes around two months. The piece needs time to dry slowly, and each piece goes through two firings before it is finished and ready to ship. Since the kiln is only fired when full, your piece waits until it can share the firing with others.
Yes. Simply enter the recipient’s address as the shipping address at checkout. In the order notes, mention that it’s a gift and add the recipient’s name, so I can address the card correctly. If you’d like, include a short message from you as well.
Every order comes with a handwritten card. For gifts, I will write your message on it by hand. If you don’t add one, I will write a few words myself.
Not yet in the shop, but a digital gift card can be arranged on request. Write to info@ondoustudio.com with the amount you have in mind, and I will send you the details.
The gift card is paid by bank transfer and sent to you by email as a PDF with a code that can be used in the webshop. You can forward it to the recipient or print it and give it in person. It is valid for 12 months.
SHIPPING AND PACKAGING
Ondou is a one-person studio, so it usually takes 2–5 working days to carefully prepare your order for shipping. During busier periods, I dedicate one day per week for packing and the next one – for bringing parcels to the post office. After that, delivery depends on the postal service. I ship with Lithuanian Post, which typically delivers within the European Union in 4–10 days. Outside the EU, delivery may take longer, sometimes a month or more. Import duties and taxes, where they apply, are paid by the recipient. If your country isn’t available at checkout, write to info@ondoustudio.com before ordering, and I will check what’s possible.
Please keep in mind that busy periods and holidays may add a few days – I am only one person doing this. For full details, see the Shipping Policy page.
Every piece is wrapped and cushioned by hand, so it travels safely. I use cardboard boxes, paper wrapping and padding, and biodegradable starch-based packing peanuts, which can be dissolved in water or added to compost. Cardboard and paper can be recycled with your paper waste.
Please write to info@ondoustudio.com within 48 hours of delivery, with photos of the piece, the box and the packaging inside. Keep everything until the matter is resolved, as the postal service may ask to see it. I will then offer a replacement, if a similar piece is available, or a full refund. For more details, see the Returns and Refunds Policy page.
MATERIALS AND PRODUCT NATURE
The photos show pieces from the current batch and represent the overall style, size and colour. Each piece is made by hand, so slight differences in shape, size, capacity, glaze and texture are to be expected, and the piece you receive may differ from the one pictured.
Dimensions may vary by about ±1 cm, capacity by ±50 ml, and weight by ±50 g.
Stoneware is a type of clay fired at high temperatures, in Ondou’s case 1220–1240°C. At this heat the clay vitrifies: its particles fuse together, making it dense and strong, so it absorbs almost no water.
This makes stoneware more resistant to chipping than lower-fired ceramics, and durable enough for everyday use, including dishwasher use (see exceptions in Product Care below). With a little luck, a piece may even survive an accidental fall. Still, it is ceramic, and it can break, so it should be handled with care.
For surfaces that touch food and drink, I use commercially made glazes that the manufacturer confirms as food-safe and lead-free.
On decorative pieces, or surfaces that don’t come into contact with food, such as the outside of a cup, I sometimes work with locally gathered materials: wild clay, sand, stones. They are fired at the same high temperature and fuse into the surface, becoming part of the piece itself.
High-fired stoneware is dense on its own, so not every surface needs glaze. The inside of vessels and the rims are always glazed. This makes them fully watertight, easy to clean and safe for food and drink.
Where glaze isn’t needed, I often leave the clay bare. Unglazed surfaces feel warm and soft to the touch, in contrast to the glassy finish of glaze, and they change slowly with use and washing, becoming gently polished over time.
PRODUCT CARE
Ondou pieces are crafted as functional art objects. With proper care, they are made to last for many years.
– Avoid sudden temperature changes. Don’t pour boiling water into a piece straight from the fridge, or run cold water over a very hot one.
– Wash gently. Use a soft sponge and mild detergent. Avoid abrasive or metal scrubbers, especially on textured surfaces.
– Dishwasher and microwave. See the questions below.
– Wild clay surfaces. Hand-wash only. Not suitable for the dishwasher or microwave.
Optional Deep Care
Some designs feature more porous surfaces or intentional glaze crazing — fine surface lines in the glaze that resemble cracks but do not affect the structural integrity of the piece. Over time, light surface staining from dark liquids may occur. To refresh the surface, the piece can be soaked in rice-washing water (the starchy water from rinsing rice), either cold or warm. The natural starches help draw out minor impurities and may subtly smooth the surface. This traditional method is gentle and non-permanent, but can help maintain the appearance of ceramics over time. Alternatively, the surface can be gently cleaned using baking soda.
Fully glazed pieces with simple forms can be washed in the dishwasher. Pieces with very textured surfaces or wild clay finishes are best washed by hand. Dishwashers and strong detergents won’t break the piece, but over time they can dull the glaze and wear down the surface, changing its original character. When in doubt, wash by hand.
Not recommended. The piece may become much hotter than its contents and be easy to drop. Please exercise caution.
Brush off the ash, then wash with a soft brush, warm water and mild soap. If the unglazed clay has absorbed the scent of incense, soak it in hot water with a spoonful of baking soda. Let the piece dry completely before using it again.
COLLABORATIONS, CUSTOM ORDERS, WHOLESALE
Yes, depending on the request and my availability. Write to info@ondoustudio.com with what you have in mind, and I will let you know whether it’s possible. Custom pieces are priced individually and may take longer to make, depending on complexity. Work begins after the payment is received by bank transfer. As custom pieces are made to your specifications, they cannot be returned, unless they arrive damaged.
Yes. I work with interior designers, architects, hotels, restaurants, cafés and companies on pieces made for a specific space or purpose, whether made to order from my current teaware collection or created individually, such as objects for interiors or corporate gifts.
Each project is shaped individually. As everything is made by hand, I take on a limited number of commissions at a time. Please write to info@ondoustudio.com with a few words about your project, the quantity you have in mind and your timeline.
Yes, selectively. Because every piece is made by hand in small batches, I don’t offer traditional wholesale pricing or large quantities. I do, however, work with a small number of concept stores and other spaces whose approach feels close to mine.
If you feel Ondou would belong in your space, write to info@ondoustudio.com with a few words about it, the quantity you have in mind and I will share the catalogue and possible terms.
Yes. I welcome proposals from galleries for exhibitions and representation, as well as enquiries from collectors interested in one-of-a-kind or limited-edition pieces. Please write to info@ondoustudio.com with a few details, and I will send a catalogue on request.
BEHIND THE BRAND
Ondou is based in the Palanga area of Lithuania, a beautiful coastal region by the Baltic Sea. The studio is not open for public visits, but it may be possible to arrange a meeting in the Palanga area if you’d like to connect in person.
Currently no. However, if you have an event idea where Ondou ceramics could be a good fit, feel free to send an email.