Care & Handling

Fine bone china asks little of you, if you ask it correctly.

Every Nicole Ivy piece is made to be used, not shelved. A care card specific to your collection travels in the box with it — for details on any applied metallic finish, follow that card first. What follows here are the habits that hold true across every piece we make

Washing

Wash by hand, in warm — not hot — water, with a mild dish soap and a soft sponge or cloth. Avoid abrasive scrubbers and anything gritted, which will dull the glaze and wear the gold over time.

Wash pieces one at a time rather than together in the basin, where rims can knock against one another. Dry immediately with a soft towel rather than air-drying, to prevent water spotting on the glaze.

Dishwasher use is not recommended for pieces with 24k gold or hand-applied detail. Your enclosed care card will confirm whether this applies to your collection.

Metallic and applied detail

Many of our pieces carry an applied finish at the rim or motif — 24 karat gold, in most cases, sometimes embossed and sometimes flat against the glaze. These are the most delicate part of any piece, more so than the china itself.

Avoid dragging metal flatware directly across a finished surface, and never cut against a rim with a knife. When washing or storing, keep finished surfaces from resting against one another or against unglazed ceramic.

Heat

Pieces with 24k gold detail are not microwave safe. Oven use is not recommended for any piece. Avoid pouring boiling liquid directly into a cold plate or charger; a moderate warm-up under warm tap water first will prevent thermal shock to the glaze.

Storage

Store each piece with a soft interleaving — felt, flannel, or the protective sleeves provided at delivery — between it and the next, so that finished surfaces never rest against one another.

Keep away from direct sunlight and high humidity, and avoid stacking more than a few pieces of the same size to limit weight on the lowest plate.