A crest on porcelain: an order that starts with a sketch

Sometimes people come to us not for tableware, but for a sense of lineage. A person wants to see their crest, cipher or initials on porcelain. Such an order is never quick, and that's normal.

First we ask for the symbol in good quality, ideally a vector. Then the artist decides how to play it out on the piece: where to place it, which colours to use, how to tie it to the shape of a cup or plate. Often a particular theme suits a crest - Eastern ornament, say, or a Navruz motif.

We don't start the painting until the sketch is approved. This matters: the client should see how the finished piece will look and calmly make edits. Only after their "yes" does the crest go to decal printing, transfer and firing, with the gold laid on top.

The result isn't just personalised ware, but a family piece. It's brought out on important dates, shown to guests and passed on. This can't be repeated on a conveyor, and that's the whole point.