Build a ceramic picnic plate with a built-in glass holder
A ceramic picnic plate with a built-in glass holder is useful at an Australian picnic, but its strongest appeal is how one object carries both food and drink. The broad centre can hold cheese, fruit and olives, while a raised recess keeps a stemmed wine glass upright. Amelia Johannsen's Barcelona-based practice, informed by Pacific Northwest forests and Mediterranean shores, offers a fitting starting point for a useful, nature-inspired form.
Build the project as a hand-formed stoneware plate with a separate collar that becomes a glass well after joining. This method gives you control of the proportions and makes the recess easier to clean than a deep slot. Measure your glass before cutting the clay, and leave clearance around its foot so a full drink cannot rock onto the rim.
Choosing clay, tools and proportions
Choose a smooth stoneware body containing about 5–10% fine grog for strength; fine clay invites cracks across a broad slab and around joins. A rolling pin, wooden rib, needle tool and sponge cover the main hand-building tasks. Before cutting, gather colour and shape references such as visual design references, using them to balance the circular plate with the offset holder.
Work from the glass you actually own. Measure its foot and check that the base is flat; a narrow or domed foot needs a different support. For an easy-to-carry plate, aim for about 28–30 cm across, with the well near the edge so fingers can reach the centre without touching the bowl.
Build essentials
- Stoneware clay containing fine grog
- Rolling pin and cotton or linen cloth for even slabs
- Wooden rib, needle tool and a small sponge
- Slip, plastic scraper and bowl for mixing
Picnic essentials
- A stemmed wine glass with a flat, stable foot
- A firm table, folding stool or level outdoor surface
- A cork mat or thin trivet to protect the plate from heat
Forming the plate and raised glass well
Roll an even 8–10 mm slab, cut it cleanly and smooth both faces. Leave the surface gently curved rather than perfectly flat, with a shallow 1–2 cm rim to contain crumbs and dressing. Add a low foot ring underneath so the plate does not rock. The raised collar adds weight on one side, so keep it slightly offset from the centre and opposite the handhold.
Make the collar separately as a thrown or hand-built cylinder, then trim it into a deep, flat-bottomed recess. Give the collar a thick lower section, so its inner floor sits about 15 mm above the plate and the retaining rim stands another 15–20 mm above that floor. Size the inner diameter only 2–3 mm wider than the glass foot, and confirm the fit before the first firing. If you later need a repeatable version for a market stall, a product-development studio such as Gestalt Projects can help translate the clay prototype into a custom insert.
Joining the collar and refining the fit
Wait until the plate and collar are both leather-hard: firm enough to handle, still damp enough to join. Score the contact surfaces, apply thick slip and compress them together, filling any gaps under the collar's base. Smooth the outside seam with a rib and support the joined form on a flat plaster bat while the pieces become firm.
Check the recess with a card disc cut to the glass foot's diameter, rather than placing the glass on raw clay. Trim a sharp inner edge and sand the foot ring lightly so the finished glass cannot catch. The fit should hold the base without pinching it, and the bowl should remain clear of the clay rim. Carve restrained ripples or leaf lines into the broad surface while the clay remains workable, but keep the glass zone clean and uncluttered.
Drying slowly and preparing for glaze
Cover the form loosely with plastic or a soft cloth, away from strong draughts and direct sun. Uneven drying is the main threat to a wide slab and the thick collar joint. Amelia's slow-drying guidance explains how controlled drying reduces stress in larger ceramic pieces. During a humid spell in Sydney, allow extra time and check that covers are not trapping condensation. In a dry northerly, protect the piece from dust without exposing it to a sudden blast.
Bisque-fire the dry form, typically to cone 04, and let it cool fully inside the kiln. Wait for an even colour before trimming the final seams. Check the glass fit again after bisque firing because shrinkage can tighten the well. Apply a food-safe glaze suitable for your clay's firing range, covering the inside of the well as well as the plate. A glossy liner helps with wine stains, although the glass foot should always be wiped clean before it is set down.
Firing and testing the finished plate
Glaze-fire to the cone recommended for the clay and glaze combination; cone 6 is a common choice for many stoneware recipes in Australian studio kilns. Leave the underside of the foot ring unglazed so it can sit on a table without sticking, and use a firing shelf and kiln wash beneath the thicker collar. Inspect the finished plate for pinholes, warped edges and cracks before preparing food.
Wash the plate and glass recess thoroughly, then test the holder with your own stemmed glass. Set a small spirit level across the underside to check stability on a firm surface. Never put a hot glass on a cold or wet plate; bring the ceramic to room temperature before pouring wine. Use it as tableware, not a chopping board, and lift the plate with two hands to keep its weight balanced.
Planning the picnic around your finished plate
Let the plate shape the meal rather than crowding it. Cheese, grapes, olives and small pieces of bread suit the broad centre, while the raised well keeps the drink separate. At Melbourne's Prahran Market, choose a few regional cheeses and fruit for the main course, then keep the portions small enough to leave room for your glass.
A Sydney harbour foreshore picnic calls for a sheltered table and a light windbreak rather than an exposed blanket. On a windy coast, fill the glass only partway and carry the plate level by its edges. A companion piece with the same handmade coastal character, such as Amelia's driftwood spoon rack, makes the setting feel considered without competing with the plate.
An Adelaide picnic can draw on provisions from Central Market, including bread, nuts and preserved foods that travel well. Australian BYO culture suits a shared bottle of wine, but check the venue or local council rules first: bringing your own drink does not override restrictions on alcohol in public parks. Use a folding stool on uneven ground, and keep fine sand away from the ceramic foot.
Amelia Creations hosts hands-on pottery workshops in Barcelona, including clay experiences with wine and tapas. These sessions offer a welcoming way to practise slab-building and raised forms before making a full plate for your own table.
Explore the available and sold work on the Amelia Creations site, follow the studio on Instagram, and subscribe to the mailing list for workshop dates and new pieces. Reserve a place at the next clay gathering or join the mailing list to hear when the next event opens.