To wear
A ceramic brooch is a small object made to be worn. It keeps the texture, glaze and painted marks of studio ceramics, but sits on a coat, knit, scarf, lapel or canvas bag.
The first Ourooh brooch collection is made by Pupottery. Each piece is shaped, glazed and painted by hand, then fitted with a metal brooch pin on the back. The designs are sold as pairs, with two related motifs that can be worn together or separated.
The collection includes birds, houses, dogs, whales, a lighthouse, a camera, a painter’s palette and other small forms. Each piece is approximately 1 cm to 4.5 cm, so the designs read as miniature ceramic objects rather than large statement jewellery.
At a glance
Maker: Pupottery
Material: Glazed ceramic with metal brooch pins
Making: Shaped, glazed and painted by hand
Size: Approximately 1 cm to 4.5 cm
Format: Two brooches sold as a pair
Care: Wipe gently with a dry cloth and keep away from heavy rain
What makes a ceramic brooch different?
Most brooches begin with metal, enamel, wood or textile. These begin with ceramic. Glaze catches the light, painted lines remain slightly irregular, and small changes in shape show where each piece has been handled during making.
They are decorative, but they are not flat printed badges. The clay gives each motif a little depth and weight. Up close, the surface matters as much as the drawing.
Made and painted by hand
Each brooch is formed in ceramic, glazed and painted by hand. The metal pin is fitted to the back after the ceramic work is complete.
No two pieces are expected to be mechanically identical. A painted line may sit differently. Glaze can gather more deeply around an edge. Colour and surface can vary slightly from one piece to the next. These differences belong to the work.
Why the brooches come in pairs
Each set brings two motifs into a small visual conversation. A bird sits beside a lighthouse. A dog is paired with a caravan. A camera meets a striped bird. A cat comes with a fish.
The pair can be worn together on one coat or bag, but it does not have to stay together. One can sit on a cardigan and the other on a scarf. They can also be divided between two people, which makes the pair useful as a shared gift without relying on matching slogans or personalisation.
Current pairs include the bird and lighthouse and the camera and bird. See the ceramic brooch collection for the designs available now.
How to wear a ceramic brooch
A ceramic brooch works best on a fabric with enough structure to hold the pin comfortably. Coats, jackets, cardigans, thicker knits, scarves and canvas bags are good places to start.
For a pair, place the two pieces close enough to read together, but not in a perfectly straight line. A small difference in height usually feels more natural. On a lapel, one piece may be enough, with the second kept for another day.
As with any pin, take care with very fine or delicate fabric. Check the pin placement before fastening and avoid pulling the brooch against the cloth.
How to care for glazed ceramic brooches
Wipe the surface gently with a dry cloth. Avoid dropping the brooch, bending the metal pin or wearing it in heavy rain. When it is not being worn, keep it somewhere it will not knock against keys, jewellery or other hard objects.
Ceramic is durable in ordinary use, but it can chip or break under impact. Treating the brooch as a small ceramic object is the simplest care rule.
Questions about the collection
Are the brooches made by hand?
Yes. The ceramic forms are shaped, glazed and painted by hand by Pupottery, then fitted with metal brooch pins.
What size are they?
The pieces range from approximately 1 cm to 4.5 cm. Exact proportions differ by motif.
Are they sold individually?
No. Each design is sold as a pair of two related ceramic brooches.
Can the two brooches be worn separately?
Yes. Wear both on one garment or bag, separate them across different pieces, or divide the pair between two people.
How are they packed?
Orders are packed in Edinburgh, ready to give, with no prices inside.