Hermetic Butter Dish Lišajník

Dimensions: h = 5.5 cm, ⌀ = 10.8 cm, capacity = 125 g of butter

Hand-thrown and trimmed stoneware butter keeper (also known as a French or water butter keeper), fired twice with a final temperature of 1280 °C. This traditional piece consists of two parts – a base filled with water and an upper bell into which the butter is packed.

Each piece is entirely handmade, glazed, and fired by hand. There will be no difference between the photograph and the product you receive, as this particular piece is the one pictured.

How does it work and what makes its design unique?

The magic of the French butter keeper lies in keeping butter at the optimal room temperature, so it stays perfectly soft, spreadable, and ready to use – while remaining fresh at the same time.

When creating this butter keeper, I paid close attention to details that make everyday use significantly easier:

Effective water seal: Pour a little cold water into the base. The bell has a specially carved groove – designed so that the maximum surface area of the butter comes into direct contact with the water, creating a perfect airtight barrier. The water fully isolates the butter and protects it from oxidation. (For ideal freshness, simply change the water every 2 to 3 days.)

Ergonomic grip: The upper part (the bell) is intentionally slightly wider than the base, making it easy and comfortable to grip and lift with one hand every time.

Flat top: The upper part is designed with a flat top, meaning that once removed from the base, it can be placed stably on the table upside down as a standalone butter dish.

Optimised size: The overall dimensions and wall thickness are fine-tuned so that the butter keeper reliably serves its purpose without feeling unnecessarily heavy in the hand.

Safety and care:

All my ceramics are made from high-fired stoneware. For this butter keeper, I used a beautiful, creamy-milky satin glaze on the inside, whose recipe comes from an article by Christine Ladeveze (published in the renowned French magazine La revue de la céramique et du verre), and on the outside Behren's Satin Matte – a crystalline glaze that forms delicate small crystals on the surface.

The surface is stable and contains no lead, cadmium, or other toxic materials. Thanks to the high firing at 1280 °C, both the clay and the glaze are completely vitrified, ensuring that the butter keeper is highly durable, food-safe, and does not leach any substances.

The butter keeper is technically dishwasher safe, but if you want to keep its surface beautiful for as long as possible, hand washing is always the best choice. I also do not recommend using it in the microwave.

A note on the surface: Matte and satin glazes like this one can be more prone to so-called cutlery marks (fine grey streaks left by a metal knife when scooping butter). The pieces themselves are highly vitrified and fully food-safe. This is simply a natural characteristic of such living surfaces and the trade-off for their captivating aesthetic.

We recommend hand washing. Ceramics can be sensitive to high temperatures and harsh detergents in the dishwasher, which may affect their longevity over time. We do not recommend the microwave, even though the ceramics should survive it. Please keep in mind that this is not a mass-produced factory item, but an individual piece of craftsmanship — treat your mug with care.