Sgraffito ceramic art for designed spaces
The Potter's Hands Studio creates hand-carved sgraffito stoneware for interior designers, art consultants, and hospitality professionals. Master potter April Dupuis wheel-throws each vessel in Oxford, Mississippi, layers it in porcelain slip, and carves Southern botanical imagery by hand — no two pieces alike. The studio offers trade pricing, custom commissions, and site-specific collections for residential, hotel, restaurant, and office projects across the South and nationwide.
carving-in-progress detail shot
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Who the trade program serves
- Interior designers sourcing statement ceramics for residential projects
- Hospitality designers & art consultants specifying for hotels, restaurants, and clubs
- Architects & builders integrating site-specific ceramic installations
- Corporate & office curators commissioning work for lobbies and executive spaces
- Galleries & stagers placing one-of-a-kind Southern art
Why designers specify sgraffito by April Dupuis
One of a kind, guaranteed
Every piece is wheel-thrown and hand-carved. Sgraffito cannot be replicated or mass-produced — your client receives work that exists nowhere else.
Rooted in Southern heritage
Mississippi's ceramic tradition runs from George Ohr's Biloxi studio to today. April's carved magnolias, cotton blossoms, and Delta flora give projects an authentic sense of place national vendors can't supply.
Built for the spec process
Trade pricing, written timelines, glaze and clay-body documentation, and food-safe durability specs on request. Deposits, holds, and delivery windows confirmed in writing before work begins.
before/after carve detail
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What is sgraffito pottery?
Sgraffito (from the Italian graffiare, "to scratch") is a centuries-old ceramic technique in which a contrasting layer of colored slip is applied to leather-hard clay, then carved away to reveal the body beneath. April Dupuis throws each form in stoneware, coats it in porcelain slip, and carves her imagery freehand — a process that can take days for a single large vessel.
The result is high-contrast, tactile surface art that reads as strongly across a hotel lobby as it does in hand.
Trade program benefits
| Trade pricing | Preferred pricing on collection work and commissions for verified professionals |
|---|---|
| Early access | 72-hour preview of new collections before public release |
| Holds | 48-hour holds on ready-to-ship pieces on request |
| Commissions | Site-specific and multi-piece commissions; palette and scale matched to your project |
| Timeline | Typical commission: 8–12 weeks, confirmed in writing before deposit |
| Payment | 50% deposit to schedule, 50% before shipment |
| Documentation | Care instructions, food-safety specs, and provenance letter with every piece |
| Co-promotion | Completed projects featured (with credit) across studio channels |
How commissions work
Consultation
Share your project, palette, dimensions, and installation context. Video or in-studio in Oxford, MS.
Proposal
Written scope with sketches, glaze direction, timeline, and pricing.
Deposit & scheduling
50% deposit reserves your kiln schedule.
Creation
Throwing, carving, and firing, with progress photos at each stage.
Delivery
Professionally packed and insured; white-glove options for large-scale work.
April at the wheel
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April Dupuis
April Dupuis is a Mississippi ceramic artist and educator whose sgraffito work is held in private collections and represented by galleries across the South. A master of wheel-thrown stoneware with carved porcelain slip, she has taught ceramics for [X years] and completed commissions for [notable commissions]. Her imagery — magnolias, dogwoods, and Delta botanicals — carries the visual language of the American South into contemporary interiors.
Meet AprilTrade program FAQ
Who qualifies for the trade program?
Interior designers, architects, art consultants, hospitality design professionals, home stagers, and galleries purchasing for client projects. A business license, design certification, or professional portfolio is required with your application.
Do you take hotel and restaurant commissions?
Yes. The studio produces multi-piece and large-scale commissions for hospitality projects, including lobby vessels, wall installations, and custom tableware programs. Timelines and quantities are scoped per project.
Can you match a project's color palette?
Within the sgraffito process, yes — slip colors and glaze tones can be developed to complement your scheme. Because every piece is hand-carved, exact replication isn't possible; that's the point.
How far do you ship?
Nationwide from Oxford, Mississippi, professionally packed and insured. Regional delivery and installation support is available across Mississippi, Tennessee, and the Memphis metro.
Is the work durable enough for commercial spaces?
April's stoneware is high-fired for durability, and functional pieces are food-safe. Placement and care documentation ships with every commercial commission.
How do I apply?
Complete the application below. Applications are reviewed within 3–5 business days.
Apply for trade access
Tell us about your firm and your project. Applications are reviewed within 3–5 business days.
Fields: Name · Firm · Role (Interior Designer / Architect / Art Consultant / Hospitality / Other) · Email · Phone · Project location · Website or portfolio URL · Tell us about your project
Based in Oxford, Mississippi. Serving designers across the South and nationwide.