Frequently Asked Questions
About Our Garden Sculptures
How are the sculptures supported?
The sculptures are hollow "beads" that are stacked. The sculpture is supported by a 2-4' rebar that is put inside a concrete half brick and filled with cement. When set, the brick is placed in a hole in the ground the same depth of the brick. Then a 1/2" conduit pipe is slipped over the rebar. The conduit is cut to the appropriate size for the sculpture. We supply the brick/rebar/conduit device at the art shows we attend or you can order it online through our website.
Will water damage the sculptures
The ceramic sculptures are made of stoneware clay. This means that the clay-body will not absorb water.
How about winter weather, snow or rain?
In some parts of the country you may keep the sculpture outside all year long. There are several of our sculptures in the state of Utah near Salt Lake City that have been outdoors for five seasons, with no damage at all. However, if snows are very deep and long and the art gets "lost" until spring thaws, damage may occur if moisture has made its way inside the individual pieces.
Wind had damaged all my yard art. How do these sculptures hold up in wind?
The sculptures do not catch the wind as a table would, for instance. If an object is hurled at the sculpture during high winds, there may be damage done. We have documented through a customer that a sculpture withstood 50 MPH wind gusts and survived perfectly.
How heavy are the sculptures?
Each "bead" is formed by hand, starting with a slab of clay. Each bead is hollow, about 3/8 of an inch thick. So, even though the beads are stacked on top of each other, the entire sculpture may only weigh about 10 pounds.
About Our Functional Pottery
Is there lead or other toxic materials in the clay?
No, the minerals and clays are mined and processed in the USA, and are tested to meet food safety requirements. MSDS information can be viewed at the Laguna Clay Company website.
Can I put pottery in the microwave, or conventional oven?
Yes, you can put pottery in the microwave or conventional oven. A casserole will become very hot, due to steam inside the lidded vessel so oven mitts are needed to remove hot food from microwave or oven. A mug can go in the microwave, but care should be taken not to overheat it.
Can I put pottery on the stovetop?
No, breakage will happen quickly due to the uneven temperature of the bottom where the heat source is, versus the top of the vessel that will be cold.
Ordering Questions
When will my order ship?
Each item is handcrafted for you upon receipt of your order. Each order takes approximately six weeks to prepare.
How much is shipping?
Shipping is based on the total weight of your order, as well as the distance from our studios to your location. Shipping will be added to your shopping cart at checkout.
Do you charge sales tax?
Idaho residents are charged 6% sales tax.
What is your return policy?
Each item is custom-made for your order, so unfortunately we cannot accept returns. Please contact us in advance of placing your order, if you have any questions about our products.
Are TMB Ceramics sculptures available from local retailers?
Absolutely! Come see us at the following markets and galleries:
Saturday Market At Eagle
Thousand Springs Art Festival in Hagerman
Nampa Festival of the Arts
Ketchum Arts Festival
Hailey Spring Fest
Twin Falls Arts in the Park
Art Source Gallery, Boise
Brown's Gallery, Boise
Urban Shed, Nampa