Terms and Conditions
Payment
For Illinois residents there is a 7.35% sales tax that will be added at the time of sale. Sales tax is only charged on items purchased. Sales tax is not charged on shipping costs or handling fees. (This is to comply with the Illinois Department of Revenue State Laws.)
If you pay with PayPal™, this will happen automatically. If you wish to send other forms of payment you will need to contact us, so we can give the correct price with tax added in if you are an Illinois resident.
Shipping
Shipping pottery can be a tricky thing. Because each piece is unique, shipping charges vary greatly and are subject to package size, weight, and destination. This is why you see a variety of shipping costs on our items; We’re trying to estimate cost based on total package weight, size, and distance.
We have to give a price that handles ALL of the US zones... this is the only way we are able to account for the furthest zone...currently! Please contact us if you are not happy with our current shipping estimate. If we know the actual distance the package will travel we can be more accurate with shipping charges.
We prefer to ship Priority USPS or UPS Ground.
A $5.00 Handling and packaging fee will be added to the shipping rate for larger item(s), and when we package multiple items. This is to cover our materials and labor used to package your item(s). If you want multiple items shipped we just charge one handling fee. We use lots of bubble wrap and recycled materials to protect your item(s)since there may never be a duplicate!
All packages we ship are insured. If you have any special shipping requests please contact us so we can make a rate adjustment.
In the event that actual shipping cost is overestimated more than $1.00, you will be refunded.
In-stock items will ship within 48 hours of confirmed payment, but usually the next day. You'll receive an email from us when your item has shipped. We will also give you a tracking number if available. It may take us a little longer over holidays, and show weekends.
Custom orders take 6-8 weeks and sometimes longer and sometimes less to complete. After completion of the custom order we will ship within 48 hours of confirmed payment, but usually the next day. You'll receive an email from us when your item has shipped. We will also give you a tracking number if available. It may take us a little longer over holidays, and show weekends.
If you would like to have us ship outside the U.S. please contact us, and we can get you a shipping estimate. We strongly recommend insurance. Mississippi Mud is not responsible for uninsured items. You are responsible for all duty, customs, or any other charges imposed by your country above and beyond the USPS (United States Postal Service), or UPS (United Parcel Service) charges that you already paid. These may be due when you pick up your package.
If your purchase is a gift, we can ship it directly to its recipient. If you would like to add a personal note, contact us, or email us at
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With all purchases we include a color brochure that describes our pottery, pottery care, and contact information.
Refunds and Exchanges
Upon receiving your pottery, please inspect each piece of your order within 1 week of receipt; you must notify Mississippi Mud Pottery of any concerns within this time period.
If any damage occurs during shipping please keep the box and all of its contents and contact us right away. These items may be required for insurance claims through the USPS and UPS. After insurance is claimed you can discard the items.
If you are not satisfied with your purchase for any reason you can return it postmarked within two weeks (14 days) for an exchange or a refund, not including shipping charges. When the item is returned safely we will refund your purchase price. Please use the original packing materials and any additional materials needed to ship item safely, and include insurance. Without shipping insurance, Mississippi Mud Pottery cannot be responsible for items lost or damaged during shipment.
FAQs
My lotion pump no longer works, do you have replacements available?
Is your clay really from the Mississippi river?
Why don’t you use clay from the river?
So then why are you called Mississippi Mud Pottery?
Is your shop open to the public?
Can I pick something up instead of shipping it?
My lotion pump no longer works, do you have replacements available? If any of the components like lotion pumps, corks, pourers, honey sticks, hummingbird sipper tubes, etc. break or become lost please contact us for a replacement.
Is your “Mudd” (Clay) really from the Mississippi? No, we are named for our proximity to the Mississippi River. Our shop sits in the heart of old Alton, IL overlooking the mighty Mississippi River.
Why don’t you use clay from the river? We choose to use a commercially made clay body. We do this for you, our customer. Besides gaining better consistency, durability, and color, the clay body is also certified non-toxic. Using a commercially made clay body also helps to keeps our production cost down, allowing a better price for you while keeping the quality high.
So then why are you called Mississippi Mud Pottery? We get our name from our proximity to the Mississippi River. We are practically a stones throw away from the river. You are able to view the river daily from the front windows of our shop!
Is your shop open to the public? Yes we are open 7 day a week except holidays and special occasions. Anyone is welcome to come in and watch us make our pottery, and see our studio and retail shop.
Can I pick something up instead of shipping it? Yes, if you live nearby or if you are going to be in the area we are happy to allow pick-ups to save on that pesky shipping.
About our Art
The work we currently make in our studio at Mississippi Mud Pottery represents our passion for ceramics and the tradition from which we extend. Functional stoneware has a long tradition in the United States, and we are proud to be contributing our unique flavor to the continuum of ceramics.
Our current work consists of functional stoneware, Raku pottery and ceramic fish. Functional, well crafted stoneware pottery is the main focus, and provides the foundation for our more exploratory work. Stoneware is a medium that is conducive to almost any shape and size of functional vessel one can imagine. This allows us to create pieces that are enjoyable to use in everyday settings, in addition to objects that are decorative. The sense of pleasure from using these pieces is important to us because we want everyone to share in the passion in which we take so much pride.
The Raku process, which subjects the clay to harsh firing conditions, yields a final product which is decorative. With this in mind, we create Raku forms that can highlight the nature of this firing, usually with amazing serendipity. Occasionally, a piece comes out of the firing that even leaves us stunned.
The ceramic fish that we create are derived from actual fish that we have caught on a hook and line. After making a mold from the fish, we press clay into it, reproducing a likeness of the fish. After carefully cleaning up the pieces and firing them, they get glazed in many varieties of surfaces. Some reference actual fish colorations, while others are glazed in whimsical colorings, including variations in Raku.
Nothing we make is completely unfounded in ceramics. However, the twist that we put on our ceramics is very unique, and it allows us to speak to a multi-faceted tradition. Finally, the possibilities that clay offers us makes us more passionate by the day for continuing this tradition.
See a pottery item like a "Mississippi Mud Pottery Dip Cooler" you want, but we don’t have one in stock?—order it! We have many patterns or solid colors to choose from. We can make a "Mississippi Mud Pottery Dip Cooler" essentially the same size and shape, and glaze it with a different color or pattern. We can often tweak our patterns if there is a feature in the pattern you do not want.
We are limited to the colors and patterns that we already have represented on our regular functional pottery items. Colors/Glazes/Surfaces represented on fish, masks, or Raku cannot be duplicated on our functional pottery.
Fish, masks, or Raku are also one-of-a-kind items. We might be able to make one with a similar likeness, but no guarantees here!
We make many custom orders daily in our shop in Alton, IL. If you do not see the item on our website you wish to order please contact us with your interest and we will see what we can come up with.
Pottery is Handmade! Therefore, color and clay consistencies may vary. For regular custom ordered items, a non-refundable 50% down payment is required. Additional payment is due when item is finished. Custom designs and personalized items require full payment in advanced. Refunds on special orders are limited to pots that become seconds in the firing process. All other refunds are limited to exchange only.
We are a small business. We take pride in the fact that everything is hand-thrown or hand-built. We do not use slip molds or jigger molds, just our hands and the potters wheel! Custom orders on regular items take 6-8 weeks to complete give or take. If we can finish your order faster, we will. Special and large projects will take longer. Remember, good things are worth waiting for!
