Various unglazed terracotta pottery including bowls, vases, and figurines displayed outdoors on the ground.

Wares that tell Our Stories

Traditional Wares

Our wares are deeply rooted in our Buddhist culture and have evolved combining tradition, utility, ceremony, rituals and decorations. They tell stories of our rich heritage and echoes the lives of our ancestors.


Our products are usually made to order and we don't sell them online. You may visit our studio directly and buy from available options.

Rigzen namgail in a blue shirt blowing sr incense from a traditional pot with a rounded base and a narrow opening, with smoke rising from the pipe, outdoors near a green tarp or wall.

Ritual, Ceremonial & Sacred Wares

Used in prayer, offerings, healing, and spiritual practices.

  • Tsangspor (honorific) or pokspor Incense pots used to burn shukpa (juniper), paloo (edelweiss), and tspang-spos (turf incense). Widely used in Buddhist homes during morning prayers and Losar. Also used to cleanse spaces and objects considered impure.

    tsangspor (honorific) or pokspor

    Incense pots used to burn shukpa (juniper), paloo (edelweiss), and tspang-spos (turf incense). Widely used in Buddhist homes during morning prayers and Losar. Also used to cleanse spaces and objects considered impure.

  • Tsangskun. A large protective covering for an incense pot to shield it from wind. Commonly found near monastery gates and sometimes used at home when incense is burned near hay or grass.

    tsangskun

    A large protective covering for an incense pot to shield it from wind. Commonly found near monastery gates and sometimes used at home when incense is burned near hay or grass.

  • Churkhung. Hand-pinched oil lamp made without a wheel, with a central hole for the wick. Widely used during Losar and daily prayers, it is one of the most commonly made and used wares in Ladakh.

    churkhung

    Hand-pinched oil lamp made without a wheel, with a central hole for the wick. Widely used during Losar and daily prayers, it is one of the most commonly made and used wares in Ladakh.

  • Tsanbar. A larger version of the churkhung, used to light lamps for extended periods, sometimes up to a month.

    tsanbar

    A larger version of the churkhung, used to light lamps for extended periods, sometimes up to a month.

  • Tsasa. Small stupa-shaped forms, usually made in sets of 100 after funerals to aid the spirit’s rebirth.

    tsasa

    Small stupa-shaped forms, usually made in sets of 100 after funerals to aid the spirit’s rebirth.

  • Thoskam. A small skull form placed on monastery roofs, believed to protect against negative energies.

    thoskam

    A small skull form placed on monastery roofs, believed to protect against negative energies.

  • Spos thukchas. Incense stick holder.

    spos thukchas

    Incense stick holder.

  • Lhingee or choggee. A diya fired from four sides.

    lhingee or choggee

    A diya fired from four sides.

  • Gyajee churkung. Five churkhungs joined together on a common base.

    gyajee churkung

    Five churkhungs joined together on a common base.

  • Ting. Small cups used to hold water in monasteries and prayer rooms.

    ting

    Small cups used to hold water in monasteries and prayer rooms.

  • Chambing. Vessels used to offer water to deities during ceremonies.

    chambing

    Vessels used to offer water to deities during ceremonies.

  • Lhumzed. A bowl often depicted in the hands of the Buddha and used in monasteries.

    lhumzed

    A bowl often depicted in the hands of the Buddha and used in monasteries.

  • Thotpa. A small, triangular bowl with three legs, used during prayers.

    thotpa

    A small, triangular bowl with three legs, used during prayers.

  • Nima zawa. Sun and moon symbols placed atop stupas, representing non-duality and oneness.

    nima zawa

    Sun and moon symbols placed atop stupas, representing non-duality and oneness.

  • Snelung. Small ritual handles used during prayers. Also the term for pot handles.

    snelung

    Small ritual handles used during prayers. Also the term for pot handles.

  • Akhoori zama. A large funerary vessel used to burn a mixture of tsampa, butter, milk, and honey over 48 days. The smoke is believed to fulfill the hunger of the departed spirit.

    akhoori zama

    A large funerary vessel used to burn a mixture of tsampa, butter, milk, and honey over 48 days. The smoke is believed to fulfill the hunger of the departed spirit.

  • Tusi pungpa. A spouted vase used during healing rituals. Water and saffron are mixed and prayers are performed for the well-being of the sick.

    tusi pungpa

    A spouted vase used during healing rituals. Water and saffron are mixed and prayers are performed for the well-being of the sick.

  • Sachut pungpa. This vessel is kept in small stupas or buried in the ground. It is believed to invite prosperity and is buried at dry springs to help restore their flow.

    sachut pungpa

    This vessel is kept in small stupas or buried in the ground. It is believed to invite prosperity and is buried at dry springs to help restore their flow.

  • Yhangzee. Sealed storage vessel used during prayers to hold grains, currency, precious metals, juniper, or sacred water. Believed to retain good fortune within the household.

    yhangzee

    Sealed storage vessel used during prayers to hold grains, currency, precious metals, juniper, or sacred water. Believed to retain good fortune within the household.

  • Kyakshad galu. A handheld vessel used to discard ritual remnants such as used tea leaves, salt, skotse (chives), and barley after prayers.

    kyakshad galu

    A handheld vessel used to discard ritual remnants such as used tea leaves, salt, skotse (chives), and barley after prayers.

  • Tsokput pulches. A small vessel used to symbolically offer food to the universe before it is consumed.

    tsokput pulches

    A small vessel used to symbolically offer food to the universe before it is consumed.

A terracotta pot with decorative patterns, placed among stones and greenery.

Everyday & Domestic Wares

Used in homes, kitchens, and fields for daily cooking, storage, processing, and the fermentation of chang (barley wine), tea, grains, dairy, and preserved foods.

  • Meslang and Tibril. A traditional alternative to a modern thermos. The meslang (brazier) holds burning cow dung, while the tibril (teapot) sits on top, keeping tea warm. Commonly taken to the fields.

    meslang and tibril

    A traditional alternative to a modern thermos. The meslang (brazier) holds burning cow dung, while the tibril (teapot) sits on top, keeping tea warm. Commonly taken to the fields. Made in small, medium, and large sizes, and always sold as a set.

  • Pungpa. Traditionally used to carry chang to weddings as a gift. When carried outside the village, a paba (barley bread) is used as a lid, marked with charcoal thumbprints and a small breathing hole. Today, it is often used as a flower vase.

    pungpa

    Traditionally used to carry chang to weddings as a gift. When carried outside the village, a paba (barley bread) is used as a lid, marked with charcoal thumbprints and a small breathing hole. Today, it is often used as a flower vase.

  • Marluk. A small bowl traditionally used to store and serve butter. Larger versions are now commonly used to serve biscuits and dried apricots and are locally known as “biscuit bowls”.

    marluk

    A small bowl traditionally used to store and serve butter. Larger versions are now commonly used to serve biscuits and dried apricots and are locally known as “biscuit bowls”.

  • Kore. Traditional tea cup.

    kore

    Traditional tea cup.

  • Photo. Bowl used to serve thukpa (soup) and daily meals.

    photo

    Bowl used to serve thukpa (soup) and daily meals.

  • Chokar. Pot used to fill and carry water.

    chokar

    Pot used to fill and carry water.

  • Gormo. A larger bowl used to mix kholak, a staple Ladakhi food made from barley flour.

    gormo

    A larger bowl used to mix kholak, a staple Ladakhi food made from barley flour.

  • Phing. Water bottle, slightly flattened at the sides and ear like loop. Closed with a wooden cork and carried using a leather strap.

    phing

    Water bottle, slightly flattened at the sides and ear like loop. Closed with a wooden cork and carried using a leather strap.

  • Kortheskys. Cup and saucer joined together, traditionally used to drink tea.

    kortheskys

    Cup and saucer joined together, traditionally used to drink tea.

  • Rhigza. A large, rounded vessel used to store chang. Requires a wooden stand.

    rhigza

    A large, rounded vessel used to store chang. Requires a wooden stand.

  • Changza. Larger version of the rhigza for storing greater quantities of chang.

    changza

    Larger version of the rhigza for storing greater quantities of chang.

  • Alste. Used to store curd and thangtur, a spiced yogurt served with paba.

    alste

    Used to store curd and thangtur, a spiced yogurt served with paba.

  • Tangtur galu. Smaller vessels used to store thangtur and tsagmo (a dish made from leftovers).

    tangtur galu

    Smaller vessels used to store thangtur and tsagmo (a dish made from leftovers).

  • Tsasluk. Similar to kyakshad galu but with a base. Used to store salt or sugar, covered with a cloth lid.

    tsasluk

    Similar to kyakshad galu but with a base. Used to store salt or sugar, covered with a cloth lid.

  • Kagdur. Cooking pot used for thukpa, paba, chutagi, labo (cheese), and occasionally yogurt.

    kagdur

    Cooking pot used for thukpa, paba, chutagi, labo (cheese), and occasionally yogurt.

  • Lhigee. Pot used to boil water and tea.

    lhigee

    Pot used to boil water and tea.

  • Jhopkar. A large pot used to churn butter.

    jhopkar

    A large pot used to churn butter.

  • Dhastoo. Used to cook rice. Similar to a changza but with perforations like a moktoo and a wider neck.

    dhastoo

    Used to cook rice. Similar to a changza but with perforations like a moktoo and a wider neck.

  • Moktoo. A steaming vessel used to cook momos. Water boils below while momos steam above.

    moktoo

    A steaming vessel used to cook momos. Water boils below while momos steam above.

  • Khagzem. A vessel used to add water to fermented barley and allow it to settle overnight before serving chang (local barley wine).

    khagzem

     A vessel used to add water to fermented barley and allow it to settle overnight before serving chang (local barley wine).

  • Tskyan. A vessel used to serve chang. Its spout is inspired by a snake, symbolically suggesting that what it holds can be both poison and medicine.

    tskyan

    A vessel used to serve chang. Its spout is inspired by a snake, symbolically suggesting that what it holds can be both poison and medicine.

  • Ghagma. An open, shallow bowl used for serving food, a local equivalent of a plate.

    ghagma

     An open, shallow bowl used for serving food, a local equivalent of a plate.

Two small terracotta bowls with wide openings, placed on a large gray rock outdoors with moss, branches, rocks, and green foliage in the background.

Cultural and Play Objects

  • Tsepore. Mortar used by thangka painters to grind and mix natural pigments. The rough earthenware surface provides the right texture for mixing, while pestles are traditionally made from wood.

    tsepore

    Mortar used by thangka painters to grind and mix natural pigments. The rough earthenware surface provides the right texture for mixing, while pestles are traditionally made from wood.

  • Penne tsakchas. Traditional piggy bank with a small bird 
on top.

    penne tsakchas

    Traditional piggy bank with a small bird 
on top.

  • Tsaga. Archery target shaped like a flat disc with a central hole.

    tsaga

    Archery target shaped like a flat disc with a central hole.

  • Shubra. Clay whistle.

    shubra

    Clay whistle.

  • Mentog tabchas. Flower pot.

    mentog tabchas

    Flower pot.

Various shapes of beige handmade minature clay animals scattered on green grass, with a person's tan arm and hand visible at the bottom left corner.

Contemporary Work

Claynimals

Claynimals are small animal figurines, 2 - 4 inches tall. They draw from a Ladakhi tradition of making barley dough figures that are offered during Losar (Tibetan New Year) and births, with animals like the ibex placed on lhatos (shrines) as offerings symbolising abundance, protection, and continuity.​


Over the past seven years, we have adapted this tradition to fired clay. Claynimals now serve as teaching tools in our workshops, gentle souvenirs for visitors, and an accessible way for children and adults to experience hand-building while sparking conversations about wildlife, ecology, and care for the land.

A small, handcrafted clay sculpture of a yak with long ears, standing on a rock outdoors with green foliage and a stone wall in the background.
A person holding a small, orange, textured figurine or sculpture of an animal, possibly a yak, with a background of rocks and plants.
A small clay fox figurine with white accents on its face and tail, sitting on green moss among small plants and leaves, with blurred green foliage in the background.
Small decorative figurine of an antelope with white antlers, placed on a large rock near a stream, surrounded by grass and rocks.
Small terracotta sculpture of a dog with pointed ears, placed on a piece of weathered wood among natural outdoor debris.
A small decorative sculpture of a dog with a branch for antlers, placed on a rock outdoors with green trees and a mountain in the background under a blue sky.
Small clay sculpture of a creature with a beak-like nose, white eyes, and a white patch on the chest, placed on a rock outdoors surrounded by green foliage.
A small, brown, wooden figurine of a creature with antlers, on a wooden surface outdoors, with a yellow ball in the foreground and a mountain with buildings in the background.
A small terracotta figurine of a dog with a shiny eye, standing on a pile of rocks and wood chips in a natural outdoor setting.
A small, beige clay elephant figurine with white eyes, placed on snow with trees and a stone wall in the background.
A small brown and beige fox figurine with white paint chipping on its body, placed on a textured gray rock amidst green leafy plants.

Custom wares &
Experiments

When time permits, we take on custom orders and explore new forms. These include coasters, prayer wheels, wind chimes, and contemporary decorative pots, where traditional knowledge meets present-day use.

We also collaborate with local artisans, such as thangka painters, to experiment and create new wares through shared skills and practices.

Rigzen namgail working on a large clay pot in a craft studio, surrounded by other finished clay pots.
A man shaping a large clay pot on a pottery wheel, surrounded by several finished and unfinished clay pots in a greenhouse or workshop setting.
A man working on shaping a large, unfinished clay vase, with another decorated clay vase in the background, in a pottery studio or outdoor workshop.
A man creating a large clay vase with detailed elephant and monkey carvings on its surface.
A close-up of a ceramic or clay pot decorated with a raised dragon design in traditional Asian style.
A large unfinished clay vase with a carved dragon design near the top, set outdoors on a wheel, surrounded by dirt and gardening items.
Decorative round stone planter with dragon and lion head sculptures around the rim, situated outdoors on dirt ground with plants and pottery nearby.
A detailed stone or clay teapot with ornate dragon and floral carvings, placed outdoors on a work surface.
Unfinished ceramic or clay sculpture of a large petal or shell shape, in a workshop with various tools, fabrics, and a sign that reads 'Likir Pottery' in the background.
A large spherical ceramic pot with carved vertical lines, placed on a wheel in a pottery workshop.
Small clay animal figurines, including a horse, cow, and other animals, arranged outdoors on a textured fabric with mountain landscape in the background.
A person with a sweater and gray pants places sand or dirt from a large container onto the ground outdoors, with a brick wall and blue sky in the background.

Fridge magnets

Extending the Claynimals series, we create 2.5D fridge magnets inspired by Ladakh’s wildlife. Designed as lightweight, travel-friendly souvenirs, they allow these animals to accompany visitors beyond the region. 
We are also experimenting with heat-resistant adhesives so they can be used on bhukaris (metal stoves), allowing them to become part of everyday local life.

Various wild mushrooms scattered on green grass, with a person's hand reaching toward some of the mushrooms.

Clay Structures

Zaranzak or Chugsumkorlo

The thirteen stacked rings are traditionally found atop a stupa. These large elements are made in sections, bisque-fired, and assembled on site.

A man smiling and holding a large, round, textured clay object. He stands in front of a brick and stone wall, wearing a blue shirt and a brown jacket.

Thap

A traditional wood-fired hearth central to Ladakhi kitchens. The thap is a clay cob stove with circular openings that channel heat for simmering butter tea, thukpa, and daily stews, while warming the room itself. Made from a specific clay known as thap-sa, it is considered auspicious and often decorated with Tibetan motifs such as the Lotus, Endless Knot and the Wish-Granting Jewel.

Historically, kitchens built around the thap doubled as gathering spaces, with low tables encircling the stove and conversations unfolding alongside the fire. Though many have been replaced by metal stoves, surviving soot-darkened thaps remain cherished reminders of Ladakh’s warmth, food, and community.

Below is a photo documentation of a Thap being made by Rigzen Namgail.

A man shovels sand or gravel at an outdoor construction site with mountains, trees, a car, and a stone building in the background.
A man squats inside a traditional medicine or cultural room, measuring a small stone square with a tape measure. The room has wooden shelves with decorative pottery and metal containers, and a rustic design with exposed wooden ceiling beams and earth
A man standing on a concrete pathway with four round, shallow pools filled with water at an outdoor construction site. The background includes a staircase and trees.
A person sitting on the floor of a rustic room, working on large stone slabs, with a window behind them letting in natural light, and wooden shelves with pottery and artifacts on the wall.
A man working on a preparing clay outdoors beside a stone wall and a staircase, surrounded by trees.
A young man looking down at a small rectangular arrangement of rocks inside a rustic room with clay walls and wooden ceiling beams. There is a wooden shelf with various metal and ceramic containers in the background.
A man standing in a construction area with sand, next to a stone wall and a building. The sky is blue with some clouds.
A man working with old mud bricks and mortar - making a earthern stove inside a rustic room with wooden beams, small windows, and minimal furnishings.
A man working on a mud brick in a rustic room with shelves of pottery and metalware on the wall.
A person sitting on a wooden chair in a rustic room with a large stone oven or cooking area in front of him. The person is wearing a jacket, pants, a cap, and is holding a stick or pole. Behind him is a wooden shelf with various pots, bowls, and deco
A man working on a large stone block, smoothing its surface with a trowel in a workshop with shelves holding various metal pots and tools.
A large rectangular stone block being carved or shaped inside a workshop, with pottery and tools in the background.
Person smoothing concrete block with trowel in an artisan workshop.
Interior of a rustic room with a large stone structure under construction, surrounded by cushions, canned goods, and kitchen utensils on wooden shelves.
A person wearing a blue beanie and gray shirt working on a decorative clay carving on a building's exterior wall, with various tools and supplies nearby.
A person working on restoring or carving an ancient stone structure inside a rustic room, with tools and supplies nearby.
A person working on a s clay stove, wearing a winter jacket and a beanie, with tools and construction materials around.
A man dressed in a jacket and knit cap working on carving or restoring a large clay or architectural element inside a workshop or similar space.
A craftsman carving an intricate geometric pattern into a clay stove (thap) block using a chisel and hammer inside a workshop.
Unfinished clay stove (thap) with carvings and decorations, placed on large rocks, in a room with shelves holding jars and bottles.
A person working on carving a traditional clay stove (thap). The sculpture features intricate designs and is placed on a stone base. Shelves in the background hold metal and ceramic pots.
A person working on a carved clay stove (thap), with decorative designs and a large central hole, in a workshop setting.
Unfinished decorative stone sculpture with intricate carvings and a shell motif in the center, set on a stone base, with workshop background.
A man is carving details into an ancient clay stove in a workshop, surrounded by shelves with artifacts and pottery.
A man inspecting a handcrafted clay stove (thap) with intricate carvings and colorful inlay details, inside a rustic room with wooden shelves and traditional kitchenware.
An ornate clay stove (thap) with detailed carvings and inlaid colorful stones. It is situated in a rustic room with wooden shelves and a window in the background, letting in natural light.
A carved clay stove (thap) with intricate patterns and a bone-like sculpture on top, placed on bricks inside a room with wooden shelves and cups in the background.
A man inspecting or working on a carved clay stove (thap) inside a rustic room with wooden shelves holding pottery and decorative items, wooden ceiling beams overhead, and a window on the left.

Our process is slow, grounded, and shaped by the rhythms of the land, from gathering raw materials to forming, firing, and finishing each piece by hand.

See our process