Creating and distributing creative ceramic forms for over 25 years, Jean Elton began in Autumn 2004 to offer its creations to galleries, interior decorators and gift shops through select home décor showrooms across the United States as well as online. Jean Elton is taking its products directly to the consumer through this web site and various shows to be announced soon.
Jean Elton offers ceramic art in two categories: Dinnerware and Home Décor. We offer more colors, more textures and more options than just about anyone in the business. We invite you to browse our store and let it inspire you to ask us to make something for you!
Designer and Owner
Background
Lois Barker is a founder and Managing Director of Jean Elton Studio & Gallery, LLC. A mostly self-taught ceramic artist that has been working with clay for the past 30 years, Ms. Barker studied ceramics briefly at the University of Hartford, CT.
Artist Statement
“I enjoy making new designs of tableware and decorating them by hand. I use the dishes in my own home for color, variety and on the basis that table decorations that are just fun! I also like working in slabs for home décor pieces so that I can press simple but tasteful designs into my work. I hope you enjoy my work as much as I do!”
Origin and Rationale
“Every single piece we sell is made in our Fairfield County, Connecticut studio. We use time-honored forms and techniques to achieve both beauty and functionality, using my designs, and, (where a piece has been customized) our clients. Our products are stoneware; meaning that they are more durable than other porcelain dinnerware. While we believe they are of better quality, safer, and better designed than many of the imports currently available in the marketplace, we hope you will want to own them because you love the way they look and feel!”
Details & Terms of Use
Process
Stoneware is the product of a truly organic process. We buy clay from a major deposit in Massachusetts, form it into one of our many shapes -– whether dinnerware, home décor pieces or accessories -– and fire each piece twice. The first firing transforms the clay into a new material: a hardened ceramic, which is sturdy enough to withstand the rigors of glazing. We apply glaze by hand using spray guns, dipping or painting and then fire the piece again, this time to about 2200 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of all the handwork and because the firings are purely organic processes, each piece is unique. Tiny irregularities are part of the charm, character, and appeal of fine, hand-made stoneware. For more information on our process, we invite you to visit our blog. We update it regularly with behind-the-scenes pictures and articles from our studio.
Safety Matters
All of our glazes are safe for food and use in the dishwasher and microwave.
Our Store
The Jean Elton website is updated every month with new “Featured Items.”
If you would like to visit our gallery in CT, please contact us for a private showing.
Shipping & Return Policies
Featured and/or in-stock items will be shipped within five business days. For custom/ordered items, please allow up to six weeks for shipping once your order is confirmed. If the timing of receipt of your custom/ordered item is at issue, please share with us your concern. Depending upon the circumstances, we may be able to make the item(s) available on an expedited delivery schedule. Please contact us.
We ship via FedEx Ground, unless otherwise requested. If you are ordering from outside of the United States, please contact us to discuss shipping.
Undamaged off the shelf items (either featured or non-featured) may be returned within 30 days for exchange or refund. There is a 15% restocking fee, and all returned shipments must be insured for the full price of the product.
We’re sorry, but we cannot accept returns for custom orders, except in the event of damage. If a custom product is damaged during shipping, please contact us and a replacement item will be sent.
Payment Methods
We accept all major credit cards. Your payment will be processed securely via Google Checkout.
Product Availability
All purchases are subject to availability. In the event that the ceramic artwork selected is no longer available, we may be able to recreate a similar piece; however, certain products are of a one-of-a-kind nature and may no longer be available.
Follow Us
