Custom Sgraffito Pet Portraits

Your Custom Sgraffito Pet Portrait first begins as a mound of wet clay that we measure and roll out into an 11" plate, then we let it dry to the point of being leather hard (when the clay is the consistency of leather) and then we layer it with 3 layers of velvet underglaze which is lead free & food safe. Once the glaze is dry, we outline the image of your pet into the glaze and begin carving into the clay. Once we've completed the portrait, the piece undergoes it's first kiln firing known as a bisque fire, where it fires at up to 1,900F for 4-6 hours. Once it's cool to the touch, we apply two final layers of clear glaze and put it back in the kiln for it's final firing, known as a glaze fire, where it fires at up to 2,200F for 5-8 hours. 

Finally, we wrap it up, package it inside of an inner box, then we place that inner box within an outer box, so that it's fully protected (this packaging method is called floating), and then we ship to you!

Once your receive it, you're welcome to hang it on the wall, stand it on your counter, or enjoy your favorite meal on it while peering into the eyes of your furry little friend. <3 

Note: We will use black velvet underglaze and a white clay for your piece. The portraits you see using  dark brown and a blue clay are just examples of 1 of 1 pieces we've done for our family dog. We will eventually offer more color options as we grow, but for right now the clay will be light brown and the glaze will be black. We'd love to hear your feedback on the clay and glaze colors you'd like to see us offer for our Custom Sgraffito Pet Portraits, so reach out and let us know!)

Below are some FAQs:

Timeline: Once you place your order, we will reach out via email and confirm with you that the picture you uploaded is in fact the photo you are happy with us using as inspiration for your pet's custom sgraffito portrait. From the time you place your order, to the time we package and ship it, should be about two weeks, not including transit time. Due to the nature of working with ceramics, sometimes things happen, such as clay breaking during kiln firing, etc.. so our lead times can vary. Should something arise that's going to significantly delay your order, we will be sure to let you know. If you need your order ASAP and are hesitant in making the purchase because you're unsure if you will receive it in time to give as a gift, etc. please reach out to us via our website or social media. Let us know what's going on and if we can make it happen, we will :) 

Returns & Refunds: We require 100% upfront payment and do not accept returns or refunds on customized goods, however, we encourage you to reach out and let us know if something is not right with your order as we'd love the opportunity to make it right!

The diameter is approximately 11", the weight is approximately 1,000 grams, and the glaze is lead free and food safe. Please note that each item from Skybird Pottery is handmade and unique, meaning that the final sizes, weights, and colors of each individual product will vary. Should variation in size, weight, or color be an issue for you, we advise that you hold off on purchasing online and to visit us during one of our farmers markets so you can see all of the products in person first.