Opening a new restaurant involves hundreds of decisions, and tableware is rarely the first thing on the list. By the time a chef has finalized the menu and an interior designer has signed off on the space, the question of what every dish will actually be served on is sometimes left to a quick wholesale order. But the plate a dish arrives on is one of the first things a guest sees and interacts with during a meal, and that decision deserves more than a catalog search. This is a guide to what restaurants should consider before commissioning custom pottery for a new menu, including what information to prepare and the practical requirements to discuss with the studio.
What Does a Pottery Commission for a Restaurant Actually Mean?
A restaurant pottery commission is not a purchase from an existing range. It is a designed piece, or a full set of pieces, created from scratch specifically for one restaurant, around that restaurant’s food, visual identity, and practical service needs. Unlike standard tableware selected from an existing range, a commissioned piece is designed specifically around a restaurant’s requirements. A signature serving plate, coffee cup, or bowl can be created to complement a particular dish, menu, interior, or overall concept. At Abu Dhabi Pottery, the UAE’s first-ever modern pottery studio, restaurant commissions are led by Master Potter Homa Farley. The studio has been honored as one of the UAE’s official Urban Treasures by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, and has been working with clay since 1994.
Before You Begin: What to Gather
The single most useful thing a restaurant can bring to the first commission conversation is clarity on what the tableware needs to do. Not a finished design, that comes later, but an honest picture of the food, the space, and the experience the restaurant is building toward.
Useful things to consider before reaching out to the studio:
- The menu style: Is the food rustic and textured, or refined and precise? Different dishes sit differently on different forms. A deep, wide bowl suits a broth very differently from a shallow, rimmed plate designed for a composed starter.
- Portion sizes and plating style: A commission is most useful when the piece is designed around specific dishes, not estimated around a general concept. If the chef has signature dishes already, bring them into the conversation.
- The interior palette: Glaze colors and surface textures work alongside a dining room’s lighting and materials. A warm terracotta glaze reads very differently under candlelight than under bright overhead light.
- Practical service requirements: How many covers does the restaurant run? Will pieces need to stack easily? Will they be used in a dishwasher? These practical requirements are considered when selecting the appropriate clay, glaze, and design.
- The scale of the commission: A restaurant can commission individual bespoke pieces or a full tableware set. Knowing the approximate quantity required helps the studio understand the scope of the project.
None of this needs to be finalized before the first conversation. But the more detail a restaurant brings to the studio, the more precisely the commission can be created around its actual needs.
What Happens During a Restaurant Pottery Commission?
Every commission starts with a conversation about the restaurant, its menu, setting and requirements. The restaurant can share mood boards, visual references and ideas to help shape the direction. Master Potter Homa Farley can work with the restaurant to develop the forms and designs, with the process tailored to the individual commission. Depending on the project, sample or prototype pieces can be created so the restaurant can review the design before the full commission is produced. The clay, glaze, shape, and size are selected according to the requirements of the project, with practical considerations such as the kitchen and table also taken into account. Because each commission is bespoke and created from scratch, restaurants should contact Abu Dhabi Pottery in advance of a new opening or menu launch to allow sufficient time for the design and production process.
What Can Be Commissioned?
Restaurants can commission a wide range of bespoke ceramic pieces, depending on their requirements. These can include plates for signature dishes, platters for sharing-style dining, bowls in custom sizes, dipping and sauce dishes, mugs, and complete tableware sets. Abu Dhabi Pottery also has examples of commissioned pieces such as oil bottles and tasting cups. Each commission is discussed individually so the pieces can be created around the restaurant’s requirements.
Signature serving plates can be designed around a specific dish, with the rim width, depth, shape, and glaze selected according to the restaurant’s requirements.
Bowls for specific courses, from a wide, shallow bowl designed around a composed salad to a deep-sided piece created for a broth or noodle dish, are each created to proportion rather than adapted from a generic form.
Complete tableware sets can also be commissioned when a restaurant wants a coordinated collection of pieces for its service.
Why the Studio Behind the Commission Matters
Choosing an experienced pottery studio is important when tableware needs to meet both the creative requirements of a restaurant and the practical demands of service. Abu Dhabi Pottery has been working with clay in the UAE since 1994. Master Potter Homa Farley was named one of the 69 noted Glasgow School of Art Alumni, and her pieces are on permanent exhibit in three museums. Her experience and artistic expertise guide the studio’s approach to restaurant commissions. Abu Dhabi Pottery also welcomes international students who come for short programs or extended training periods. Some are university students studying pottery and ceramics professionally and completing hands-on training at the studio. Students have traveled from countries including the USA, France, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UK, and India, among others. For restaurants commissioning tableware for the first time, the studio considers both the creative brief and the practical requirements of restaurant service when developing the pieces.
Starting the Conversation
A custom pottery commission begins with a conversation, not a specification sheet. Contact Abu Dhabi Pottery directly to discuss your restaurant’s concept, your menu, and what you are hoping the tableware will do for the dining experience you are building. At Abu Dhabi Pottery, the UAE’s first-ever modern pottery studio, restaurant commissions are led by Master Potter Homa Farley. The studio has been working with clay since 1994, and Master Potter Homa Farley’s ceramics are held in three museum collections. Abu Dhabi Pottery has also been honored as one of the UAE’s official Urban Treasures by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.
The sooner the conversation starts, the more the commission can be shaped around what the restaurant actually needs, rather than adapted to whatever timeline is left.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should a restaurant start the commission process?
For a new menu launch or restaurant opening, it is best to contact the studio in advance to allow sufficient time for the design and production process. The timeframe depends on the quantity and complexity of the commission.
Can a restaurant commission just one piece rather than a full set?
Yes. Some clients start with a small number of pieces and add more later. Abu Dhabi Pottery’s commissions can range from individual bespoke pieces to full tableware sets.
What if the restaurant’s design concept is still evolving?
The initial consultation is a conversation about the restaurant’s concept, menu, space, and requirements. You do not need to have every detail finalized before contacting Abu Dhabi Pottery. Mood boards, photographs, and other visual references can also help shape the design direction.
Are the pieces suitable for commercial daily use?
Abu Dhabi Pottery’s restaurant tableware is designed with practical service requirements in mind, including considerations such as weight, stackability, and ease of cleaning. The specific requirements of each commission are discussed with the restaurant during the design process.
Homa was born in Tehran, Iran where she spent her childhood and teenage years. She has lived in the UK, and currently resides between Spain and the United Arab Emirates.
