Handmade terrarium: how to recognise a workshop piece
A handmade terrarium is assembled panel by panel, to order. The signs that prove it, why you have to wait, and what to check on arrival.
In this guide
A handmade terrarium is a terrarium whose glass is assembled by a person, panel by panel, and not taken out of a mould. You recognise it by three signs: it is not exactly the same as its neighbour, it makes you wait, and it exists in few copies.
Handmade or mass-produced: the difference
A standard terrarium jar is blown or moulded in a factory. Thousands of identical pieces come out. It is a good object, and its price is low.
A handmade geometric terrarium follows another path:
- The flat glass is cut, panel by panel.
- The panels are assembled by hand, edge by edge.
- The base is made watertight.
Our terrariums in the Prisme collection are assembled this way, in Europe, in glass and silicone.
The three signs of a workshop piece
It is not perfectly regular
Look closely at the edges. On a handmade piece, one joint may be a little wider than another. This is normal, and it is the mark of the hand. No two pieces are exactly the same.
It makes you wait
A mass-produced piece ships the next day, because it waits in a warehouse. A workshop piece is made after the order. Ours ship within 1 to 2 weeks.
It is counted
The maker produces only a few pieces at a time. When they are sold, you wait for the next ones.
Questions to ask before you buy
These questions apply to any seller, ourselves included.
- Where is the piece made? Ours: in Europe.
- In what materials? Ours: glass and silicone.
- Is the base watertight? Ours: yes.
- Does the terrarium close? Ours: yes, with a removable glass panel with a knob.
- What is the lead time? Ours: ships within 1 to 2 weeks.
A seller who writes "artisan" without answering these questions is selling a word.
What we do not say
The manufacturer gives neither the weight nor the volume of its terrariums. So our product pages do not mention them. They give the sizes: length, width, height. Our terrariums are not signed by a designer either.
On arrival
- Open the parcel the same day.
- Check each glass panel and each edge.
- Put the removable panel in place, to see that it fits well.
- If the glass is cracked or broken, write to us right away, with a photo.
You can then plant. Allow an hour. Our guide to the terrarium layers gives the order: clay pebbles, activated charcoal, potting soil, then the plants and the moss.
Caring for the glass
- Wipe the outside with a soft cloth, dry or barely damp.
- Use no glass cleaner on the inside: the plants cannot stand it.
- Lift the terrarium by the base, with two hands. Never carry it by the removable panel.
Our guide to cleaning the glass of a terrarium details the steps.
In short
A handmade terrarium is recognised by its small differences, its lead time and its limited series. Always ask for the place of manufacture, the materials and the lead time. And check the glass on arrival.
To choose a shape, read our guide to the geometric terrarium. To understand what makes the price, read the one on the luxury terrarium.
Sources
- Creating a Closed Terrarium, Penn State Extension
- How to Design a Closed-System Terrarium, Mississippi State University Extension
- Manufacturer data sheets for the terrariums (dimensions, materials, manufacture, lead time)
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a terrarium is really handmade?
Three signs: slight differences from one piece to another, made-to-order manufacture with a lead time, and a limited series. A serious seller also tells you where the piece is made.
Why does a craft terrarium take 1 to 2 weeks to ship?
Because it does not exist yet when you order it. The glass is cut and assembled by hand after your order. Our geometric terrariums ship within 1 to 2 weeks.
Are the small differences in the glass defects?
No. A slightly wider joint or a slightly different edge is normal on a hand-assembled piece. Cracked or broken glass, however, is a defect: write to us as soon as it arrives.
Where are your geometric terrariums made?
Our supplier makes them by hand in Europe, in glass and silicone, to order.
