NORTHERN ARTS AND CRAFTS GUILD

Pottery is handcrafted using 3 methods - throwing, coiling and slabbing. The clay used is stoneware and glazes are food safe.

Once a piece of pottery is made out of raw clay it is left to 'set' until it resembles hard cheese. It can then be handled and decoration can be embossed or cut into the clay. This is then left to dry - anything from 5 days to 4 weeks depending on the thickness.

Once dry it is fettled (all the rough edges sponged off), put into a kiln and fired for approximately 10 hours to a temperature of 1000°C. Cooling takes about 15 to 20 hours. At this stage the pots are absorbent and ready for glazing, which is done by dipping, spraying or brushing on the glaze. Any detailed work is done by underglazing before dipping or overglazing after using a brush on glaze.

The pot is then returned to the kiln and fired for approximately 12 hours to 1240°C. Cooling takes about 20 hours. The pot is now waterproof and ready for sale.

This page is still under construction.

[ Home ] [ Up ]

Copyright © 2003 NORTHERN ARTS AND CRAFTS GUILD

Last modified: January 15, 2008