Jono Pandolfi in his Union City, New Jersey, studio where he uses processes such as throwing, casting, handbuilding, pressing, and jiggering to create his signature dinnerware. "Jiggering is kind of our specialty; it's basically a process where you have a mold that fits onto the potter’s wheel, and clay is placed into that," he says. "As that spins, a heavy-duty arm swings down with a template attached that corresponds to the cavity in the mold. It cuts away all the excess clay as it turns, and the plate takes shape. From there it dries, comes out of the mold, has its rim trimmed, and is eventually fired two times." Photo 6 of 9 in How Much Should You Spend on Dinnerware?

How Much Should You Spend on Dinnerware?

6 of 9

Jono Pandolfi in his Union City, New Jersey, studio where he uses processes such as throwing, casting, handbuilding, pressing, and jiggering to create his signature dinnerware. "Jiggering is kind of our specialty; it's basically a process where you have a mold that fits onto the potter’s wheel, and clay is placed into that," he says. "As that spins, a heavy-duty arm swings down with a template attached that corresponds to the cavity in the mold. It cuts away all the excess clay as it turns, and the plate takes shape. From there it dries, comes out of the mold, has its rim trimmed, and is eventually fired two times."