Why we knead clay before every pot
Before any clay goes on the wheel, it gets kneaded. Potters call this wedging. It looks like kneading bread dough, and it does a similar job.
Fresh clay holds tiny pockets of air. If they stay in, they can expand in the kiln and crack the pot or leave a blow-out on the surface. Wedging presses the air out and mixes the clay so it is the same all the way through, which makes it behave evenly on the wheel.
It also warms your hands up and gets your arms into the rhythm of the day. Most days we wedge a whole tray of balls before sitting down to throw. It is the least exciting part of the process, and probably the part that matters most.
If a mug ever feels oddly solid and well balanced in your hand, a lot of that comes from this first step.
What happens inside the kiln
Every piece we make is fired twice. The first firing, called a bisque firing, turns soft dried clay into hard, porous ceramic. It is hot, but not as hot as the second one.
After the bisque firing we dip or brush on glaze. Glaze is a mix of minerals and water that looks chalky and dull when it goes on. The second firing, at around 1,200 degrees Celsius, melts it into a smooth glass-like coat and brings the clay to its final strength.
A kiln firing takes the best part of a day to heat up and then another day to cool down. If you open the kiln too early, the sudden change in temperature can crack the glaze. So we wait, which is harder than it sounds when you want to see the results.
That long, slow cycle is why glazed stoneware can go in the dishwasher and last for years.
Why no two glazes look the same
Two mugs from the same batch can look slightly different, even when they share a name and a colour. That is not a mistake. It is how glaze works.
Glaze is a thin layer of glass. It runs and pools depending on how thickly it was applied, where the piece sat in the kiln and how fast it cooled. Where it pools it looks deeper and richer. Where it is thin, you can see more of the clay underneath.
We pick each colour because it moves in a good way, with soft edges and a little variation. If you look closely at a glazed band, you may see small speckles or a change in tone. That is the minerals doing their work.
If you want a perfectly even, factory finish, we are probably not the right studio for you. If you like a surface that looks handmade because it is, you will feel at home.