This is Ulric. He's a uniquely handbuilt stoneware monsterpot with a lid for a head, engineered for one purpose above all others: making you smile before you've had your morning coffee — and possibly still smiling after, once you've seen those eyes again in better light.

This sturdy, tri-footed fellow wears a coat of hairstreak teal-blue glaze pooling over translucent leaf green, the two colors chasing each other across every ridge of his hand-built texture. His yellow and white matte finish buttons are there to gives your fingers a sure, no-slip grip when you pick him up. The interior is glazed clear and is food-grade safe, so whatever Ulric's guarding, he'll guard it properly.

Good for holding anything small and precious: pet treats, spare coins, keepsakes, secrets, or yes — butter, since his lid seats snugly enough to keep it fresh. He also makes a tender, slightly monstrous keepsake vessel for the ashes of a beloved furry family member — the kind of creature who, like Ulric, was probably also fond of dirt and small amphibians.

Ulric himself prefers to spend his days with his toes in the dirt, turning over rocks in search of salamanders. He does not always find one. He is not always disappointed by this.

Standard 101 Buff Stoneware, fired to Cone 6. All glazes home-mixed and tested in Kest Pottery Studio.

#403

Hand wash please, and mind the teeth.