About

Joe Melser from Mahora Pottery

I grew up with a production potter father and spent my uni holidays working in the pottery. After getting going again at the Taradale Pottery Club, I have been making my own pots to sell.

My goal is to make pots which are affordable and can be enjoyed. I have a home studio pottery in Hastings, with an electric kiln, using my own glaze recipes.

I enjoy pots which are functional, understated, and used every day. In the production process, I like the small individual differences in the pieces which emerge through the throwing, glazing and firing processes. The imperfections and uniqueness mean you can develop a relationship with the pot, as you sip your coffee or eat dinner.  

I sell pots at the Hastings Farmers Market, at the Showgrounds on Sunday mornings. If you see something out of stock online, feel free to message me through the site and I may have some available. 

I mix my own glazes. The green glaze uses copper as the colourant, which has been used in ceramics for thousands of years. The white glaze uses an white opacifier. 

I don't have a physical shop. You are welcome to visit to my workshop by arrangement, especially if you have a good idea of what you are after, and I can unpack some of the pots for the Famers Market. But it is definitely a workshop rather than a display area!  

Here I am throwing a colander.