The Butter Dish by Ayla Murray

Butter is a modern dietary staple with a rich history marked by its nutritional, cultural, economic, and ceremonial significance. This humble yet remarkable ingredient deserves a place in our homes that reflects its importance in a functional and celebratory manner. A well-crafted butter dish is the perfect vessel to achieve both pursuits. 

Template Tools and Clay Construction Tools sidebarDesign Details

The rectangular shape of a stick of butter serves as the foundation for this design, but the possibilities for embellishment are endless. I aimed for a form that combines subtle elegance with practicality, featuring a simple, compact design elevated by a small foot for character. The muted color palette ensures versatility, while the textured lid, inspired by antique hammered copper pots from Victorian-era kitchens, adds a touch of subtle complexity.

Draft the Templates

To create your own butter dish, first determine the type or size of butter you wish to store and develop the pattern accordingly. In the US, butter is typically available in two standardized sizes—Eastern and Western—with a few less common options as well (see sidebar). I designed my butter dish to easily fit both Eastern and Western dimensions, but I prefer the proportions of a dish that accommodates only half a stick of butter. 

After determining the butter footprint, I added some additional room on all sides of a paper template (1). This shape becomes the raised interior plate that the butter rests upon and the base is the same shape with ¾ inch (2 cm) added to the outer edge in all directions. 

Once the base pattern is complete, the next step is designing the lid. Start by determining your desired height, keeping in mind a convex slab that will later form the top. Cut out a long paper rectangle to match the desired width, leaving extra length that can be trimmed as needed. Compare this oval to your base pattern—it should sit just over ¼ inch (6.4 mm) inside the outer edge of the base. Be sure to leave an additional ¼ inch (6.4 mm) of length to accommodate beveling and attachment when constructing the lid in clay.

I encourage creating multiple paper mock-ups and clay maquettes to help refine your design to your liking. This iterative process will help you achieve a butter dish tailored to your needs and style. 

Cut Out the Pieces 

Using a rolling pin and two ¼-inch-thick (6.4-mm) wooden slats, roll out a slab of clay and compress both sides with the straight edge of a rubber rib. Lay out your pattern pieces, taking care to cut out two U-shaped feet and two of the base—the second base piece will later serve as the top of the lid. 

Cut the long strip of clay measuring ¼ inch thick and approximately ½ inch wide (6.4 mm × 1.3 cm) that will form the rim of the base. I recommend reusing offcuts from the slab, rather than rolling them out separately to create the strip. This approach avoids having to roll out an unnecessarily large slab. 

Three different butter dishes by Ayla Murray

Commercial US Butter Dimensions sidebar

Make the Base and Feet 

Start by beveling the outer edges of one of your base pieces (2) and the butter plate. I like to cut out a small section in the middle of the base to reduce weight, promote more even drying, and add decorative flair or texture to the underside of the dish, which will be visible when viewed from below, but this is optional. Soften the edge of the interior cutout of the base. Trace where the butter plate will sit centered on the base and score where the two pieces will join, adding a few drops of water with a paintbrush before securing the pieces together (3) with gentle pressure using your fingertip. 

Next, bevel and score the edge of the ½-inch-wide (1.3-cm) clay strip, as well as the beveled edge of the base. Press the strip onto the base to form the outer cuff (4), cutting the strip’s ends at a 45° angle for a stronger joint. Soften the edge by pinching or using a damp sponge, and smooth the exterior edge with a rubber rib. Allow the base to firm up before flipping it over to finish the bottom. 

1 Pattern pieces. Left: lid wall. Right (top to bottom): signature plate, foot, butter plate, base.
1 Pattern pieces. Left: lid wall. Right (top to bottom): signature plate, foot, butter plate, base.
2 After cutting the pieces out, bevel the outer edge of the base and butter plate at a 45° angle.
2 After cutting the pieces out, bevel the outer edge of the base and butter plate at a 45° angle.

3 Refine the edges of the base, add texture to the bottom plate, and slip and score the areas where they will join.
3 Refine the edges of the base, add texture to the bottom plate, and slip and score the areas where they will join.
4 Bevel the edge of a ½-inch-wide (12.7-mm) strip, then slip, score, and attach it to the beveled outer edge.
4 Bevel the edge of a ½-inch-wide (12.7-mm) strip, then slip, score, and attach it to the beveled outer edge.

Once the base has firmed up, flip it over and refine the outer edge. You can decide whether you want to incorporate feet into your design or leave the bottom flat. I freehand a U-shaped piece that is slightly smaller than the base, but you can design a foot style that suits your preferences. If adding feet, determine their positioning and trace the outline (5). Bevel the ends and outer edge of the U-shaped feet and attach them to the base (6). Use a paintbrush to clean up the edges. 

Another element I like to add is a small ⅛-inch-thick (3.2-mm) slab to the underside of the butter plate, which I call a signature plate (7). If you choose, you can sign your name here or add a stamp (8) as a finishing touch. Turn the base over and lightly dust the top with cornstarch to prevent the lid from sticking in the next steps. 

5 Mark the placement of the feet on the underside of the base and trace their outlines with a pin tool.
5 Mark the placement of the feet on the underside of the base and trace their outlines with a pin tool.
6 Bevel the ends and outer edges of the feet, then slip, score, and attach them to the base. Finish by refining the seams.
6 Bevel the ends and outer edges of the feet, then slip, score, and attach them to the base. Finish by refining the seams.

7 Cut out a thin slab, soften the edges, then slip, score, and attach it to the center of the cutout in the base.
7 Cut out a thin slab, soften the edges, then slip, score, and attach it to the center of the cutout in the base.
8 Complete the base by adding your signature or stamping a small ball of clay with your personal chop.
8 Complete the base by adding your signature or stamping a small ball of clay with your personal chop.

Form the Lid 

To form the lid, start by texturing the exterior of the lid wall using your preferred method, such as a textured plaster slab and rolling pin (9). Bevel the ends of the wall at 45-degree angles, then score, slip, and join them, securing the exterior seam with your fingertip and blending the interior seam with a rib. Place the lid wall onto the base, adjusting it to fit evenly between the outer cuff and butter plate (10). 

Next, take the second base cutout, pinch it slightly to create some volume and drape it over the lid wall (11). Let this set up. 

9 Add texture to the slab that will form the lid wall. I like to use a textured plaster slab for efficiency.
9 Add texture to the slab that will form the lid wall. I like to use a textured plaster slab for efficiency.
10 Bevel the edges of the slab where they will meet and attach. Try to maintain the texture on the exterior seam.
10 Bevel the edges of the slab where they will meet and attach. Try to maintain the texture on the exterior seam.

11 Place the lid wall onto the base and gently manipulate the form to fit evenly over the base.
11 Place the lid wall onto the base and gently manipulate the form to fit evenly over the base.
12 Looking from the bottom, trace the outer edge of the lid wall onto the underside of the draped slab.
12 Looking from the bottom, trace the outer edge of the lid wall onto the underside of the draped slab.

Once firm, trace the outer edge of the lid where it meets the wall (12), remove the draped piece, and trim along the traced line with an X-Acto knife held parallel to the table (13). Score, slip, and attach the lid top to the wall (14), refining the joint inside and out (15). Place the lid back on the base to ensure it retains its shape as it dries in place. 

Finally, roll a chunk of clay into a knob shape (16), attach it to the center of the lid (17), and reinforce it with a decorative coil (18). With this final touch, your butter dish is complete. 

13 Peel the draped slab off of the lid wall and cut along the traced outline with an X-Acto knife held parallel to the table.
13 Peel the draped slab off of the lid wall and cut along the traced outline with an X-Acto knife held parallel to the table.
14 Slip and score the top edge of the lid wall and the outer edge of the lid top, and add a bit of water.
14 Slip and score the top edge of the lid wall and the outer edge of the lid top, and add a bit of water.

15 Place the lid top on the lid wall, ensuring the shape aligns well before securing the seam.
15 Place the lid top on the lid wall, ensuring the shape aligns well before securing the seam.
16 Roll a small coil of clay into a truncated cone shape, ensuring the flared top is smooth and crisp.
16 Roll a small coil of clay into a truncated cone shape, ensuring the flared top is smooth and crisp.

17 Rotate the lid on the banding wheel to find the center for even spacing. Trace the outline, then slip, score, and attach.
17 Rotate the lid on the banding wheel to find the center for even spacing. Trace the outline, then slip, score, and attach.
18 Roll out a tiny coil of clay and wrap it around the base of the knob to provide stability and a decorative touch.
18 Roll out a tiny coil of clay and wrap it around the base of the knob to provide stability and a decorative touch.

Fire 

This butter dish can be fired in any type of kiln, but was developed with reduction-cooled wood firing in mind. In this process, the kiln is heated to the desired temperature, then cooled slowly by sealing all cracks and periodically adding small amounts of wood to maintain a reduced atmosphere. 

Ayla Murray's butter dish and storage jar.
Ayla Murray's butter dish and storage jar.
Ayla Murray's Ewer, 8¼ in. (21 cm) in height, iron-rich stoneware with laterite slip, 2024.
Ayla Murray's Ewer, 8¼ in. (21 cm) in height, iron-rich stoneware with laterite slip, 2024.

Ayla Murray's pair of butter dishes exhibiting wood-fired and oxidation surfaces, 2024.
Ayla Murray's pair of butter dishes exhibiting wood-fired and oxidation surfaces, 2024.

To learn more about artist Ayla Murray, take a look at the Artist Q&A from this issue. 

Ayla Murray is a Canadian ceramic artist living in Helena, Montana, with her partner, Zac, and their puppy, Hugo. She is working at the Archie Bray Foundation unearthing decades of pottery from their permanent collection and making pots in her home studio. To see more of her work, visit www.aylamurray.com or on Instagram @ayla__murray, also take a look at the Artist Q&A article in this issue. 

Unfamiliar with any terms in this article? Browse our glossary of pottery terms!
Topics: Handbuilding Techniques, Functional Pottery
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