As a potter, I spend hours shaping, firing, and glazing every piece. So it’s out of the question for a pot to be damaged during the few days of travel between my workshop and your bench or bonsai. To minimise the risk as much as possible, I always use a double box and several layers of protection capable of absorbing shocks, impacts, and even the occasional fall.
The photos in this article show a concrete example of how I pack. Not all parcels look exactly the same— I always adapt the protection to the size, weight, and number of pots—but the principle is always the same: prevent the pot from moving and keep it away from the sides of the box.
1. Wrapping
The first layer of protection is bubble wrap. The pot is fully covered, including the rim and the feet, to avoid any direct contact with cardboard or other objects. The bubble wrap absorbs small impacts and creates a first cushion of air around the pot.
If several pots are shipped in the same parcel, I repeat the exact same process for each one. They never touch directly: every piece has its own personal “armour” of air bubbles.
2. Cushion
The wrapped pot never sits directly on the cardboard. I first fill the bottom of the inner box with crumpled newspaper or kraft paper to create a cushioning base.
This paper “mattress” absorbs much of the impact coming from below—for example when the parcel is set down roughly, slid across a floor, or stacked with other boxes.
3. Positioning the pot
The bubble-wrapped pot is placed on this cushioning base, in the centre of the box. I then fill all the remaining space around it with crumpled paper so it can no longer move.
Once the sides are packed, I add a second layer of paper or kraft on top of the pot. This creates a real cocoon: protected underneath, on top, and all the way around.
4. First box
When the pot is properly packed and covered, I close the first box and reinforce the flaps with wide packing tape. At this stage, the pot is already very well protected for short journeys.
For bonsai pots—which are often wide, thin, or delicate—I prefer to add one more step: a second box to create an external shell that will absorb the heaviest impacts.
5. Second box
The first box is placed inside a larger second box, whose bottom is also lined with crumpled paper. I make sure the inner box is positioned in the centre, with no direct contact with the outer walls.
I then add paper around the sides and on top until the inner box is completely immobilised. Even in the event of a serious impact, the energy is dissipated through these different layers before it reaches the pot.
6. On its way
or to survive a slightly over-enthusiastic throw.
The outer box is then sealed, reinforced with tape, and labelled. The parcel is now ready to leave the workshop and travel to you, whether in France or elsewhere in Europe.
The goal of this whole setup is simple: even if the parcel is handled roughly, dropped, or tossed over a gate, the pot inside remains protected by several layers of paper, air bubbles, and cardboard.