“Absolutely beautiful butter bell, keeping my butter fresh and perfect, looks beautiful on my kitchen bench.” – Rebecca Q
Every time a photo lands in my inbox showing one of my handmade ceramic butter bells in its natural habitat—a real-life kitchen—I get a little thrill. It’s not just about seeing my work in someone’s home, though that’s always a joy. It’s about seeing the design at work.
This butter bell is a special one. It’s from my very first batch, crafted way back in 2020. At that point, I was still refining the form, testing glazes, and learning what people really needed from a butter bell. Fast forward five years and I’ve now made and sold thousands of ceramic butter keepers, sending them everywhere from my next-door neighbour to the Netherlands. With each one, the design evolves—because every batch is a chance to improve.
User Experience Starts with the Maker (and the Butter)
Designing a functional ceramic kitchen piece like a butter bell starts not in the studio but in the kitchen. I use a butter bell every day myself, so I notice all the little details: How it sits on the bench. How easy it is to clean. How it holds up in different climates. These lived experiences feed directly into my making process.
When I started, the rim of the base wasn’t glazed. But I quickly realised that a glazed interior and contact surface made for a much more hygienic and easy-to-clean butter crock. That’s when I adjusted my firing method to glaze any area that touches butter or water. It’s a small shift, but it transforms the daily experience of using the piece.
Designing for Beauty and Functionality
A butter bell isn’t just a container—it’s part of the kitchen landscape. That’s why each one is made to be as beautiful as it is functional. Whether it’s sitting on a rustic farmhouse table or a sleek modern bench, the form is timeless. But it’s the details—refined edges, thoughtful proportions, colour palettes that match real homes—that make it sing.
This is where ceramic design thinking really shines. Every new batch is tested, refined, and improved based on user feedback and my own hands-on experience. It’s a process of continuous iteration, just like any good UX design project.
Handmade, Hand-Tested, and Built to Last
Unlike mass-produced kitchenware, handmade butter bells evolve over time with the maker’s insight and the user’s experience. I’ve learned that even small design tweaks—like a smoother lid handle, a slightly taller base, or a tighter water seal—can make a big difference in daily use.
That’s why I say every butter bell I make is the best one yet.
Looking for the Perfect Butter Bell?
If you’re searching for a beautiful ceramic butter keeper that keeps butter fresh on your kitchen bench, is easy to clean, and is designed with real-life use in mind, my handmade butter bells might just be what you’re after.
Each one is crafted with care in my Melbourne studio, using food-safe glazes and durable stoneware. And every single one reflects five years of thinking, making, testing—and yes, butter eating.
Want to know when the next batch is ready? Join the mailing list or follow along on Instagram to see more #butterbellinthewild photos.