Frequently asked questions

Hand Told is a marketplace that turns personal life stories into one-of-a-kind handmade art. You share a memory in a guided conversation, we match you with a skilled artisan from a global craft tradition, and the artisan creates a piece made just for you. Most pieces run $50–$5,000.

1. Build a short profile so the conversation can be personal from question one.
2. Have a conversation (quick: 15 min, standard: 30 min, or deep: 1 hour+) about a memory, person, or moment that matters.
3. Upload inspiration photos. We read them for colour, mood, and cultural cues.
4. Review three suggested art-form directions from different artisan traditions and approve a structured brief.
5. The matched artisan crafts your piece and ships it to you. They receive 50–75% of every sale.

Most pieces are priced by the artisan based on crafting time and run between $50 and $5,000. You set a budget range during the interview, and the matched artisan returns an actual quote when accepting the commission. You see the firm price before any payment is taken.

Artisans receive 50–75% of every sale, paid through Stripe Connect with no middlemen taking a cut. This compares to an industry standard of 10–20% on most handmade marketplaces. Hand Told takes a single platform fee and pays the rest directly to the maker.

Artisans come from craft traditions around the world: Vietnamese ceramics, Moroccan metalwork, Indian marble carving, and many more. Many are from communities where the craft is generations old but local buyers are scarce, so a global commission market keeps the tradition viable.

Yes. Your interview, profile, and emotional themes stay private. The artisan only receives a structured brief with the creative direction, colour palettes, and themes you have explicitly approved. Never your full name, identifying details, or anything you have not signed off on. The artisan sees only the customer’s first name and country.

It depends on the craft and size of the commission. Simpler ceramics ship in 2–4 weeks; detailed marble carving or metalwork can take 8–12 weeks plus international shipping. The artisan provides an estimated completion time when accepting the brief, and you receive regular updates as the piece takes shape.

Yes. The interview supports both first-person (“about me”) and third-person (“about someone I love”) modes, and the questions adapt accordingly. You choose whether the recipient is told a piece is being made or whether it stays a surprise.

Yes. Collaborative threads let two people share a single interview, where both contribute memories and answer questions, and the brief reflects both perspectives. Either person can pay in full, or split the cost on a 20% upfront / 80% on completion schedule.

Vietnamese ceramics, Moroccan metalwork, Indian marble carving, and a growing list of other craft traditions. Hand Told suggests three art-form directions per commission based on your story, profile, and inspiration photos, so the recommendation is always personal rather than a generic catalogue.

Apply through the artisan portal. You upload sample work, share your craft tradition and languages, and once approved you are matched with briefs that fit your skills. Artisans set their own price when accepting a commission and receive 50–75% of every sale.

The customer interview and the website are available in English and Dutch today, with more languages rolling out. Briefs are translated into the artisan's preferred language so the maker can read them in their first language regardless of where the customer is based.

Every commission has a built-in revisions step before final approval. You see the proposal and can request changes before paying the bulk of the price. Payment is split 20% upfront on approval and 80% on completion, so the artisan only collects the larger share once the piece meets the brief.