Showing the process from throwing to final product….
Centred clay (nearly) on a batt on the wheelhead. Thrown pot, still wet pliable clay.
Turned (trimmed ) pot with foot rim trimmed into the base. Drying slowly and carefully to avoid cracking.
Very sad looking clay! Ready to be coned up on the wheel for centering
Into the kiln with some odd gnome bedfellows for the first firing, 1000 C, Bisque firing. Electric kiln and oxidation firing over 12 hours, then another 20 hours to cool.
Out of the bisque firing, the white stoneware clay has become as white as it will be and the brown has taken on an orange hue due to a higher amount of iron oxide in the clay. The clay is now hard and more robust, still fragile but can be handled safely for glaze application. Each piece is checked and sharp edges sanded and washed free of any fine clay dust.
Before and after glaze firing. Notice how the blue glazed item was a beige colour before (the colour of the raw glaze). The unglazed natural clay has darkened.
Finished article. Glazed with satin matt white interior to make it waterproof (and food safe if needed) Natural fired white clay is now a pale off white with a slight beige/pink tone.
Reclaimed white stoneware clay which has been wedged (a sort of kneading) on an absorbent surface to ready for throwing. This process results in a clay body which is uniform in texture and moisture. Any air bubbles will be forced out leaving a smooth, pliable clay body. This is cut into blocks of the appropriate size for the objects being made and re-wedged into balls.