These designs are slip cast. In casting, liquid clay (slip) is
poured into a plaster mold; the mold absorbs water from the slip which leaves a deposit of clay on the plaster. After a time,
when this layer of clay is the desired thickness, the excess slip is drained from the mold leaving a coating of clay which
is the ceramic piece.
After the piece is removed from the mold, it is carefully sponged to finish the edges and remove any
seam lines. When it is dry, it is bisque fired slowly to a low temperature so that it is strong enough to be handled during
the glazing process.
“Hand dipping” the pieces in a bucket of glaze is used,rather than the more commercial method of spraying.
It takes more time and more skill, but it gives subtle variations in the glaze that give each piece its own character and
are a mark of hand crafted work.
After being glazed, the piece is fired a second time to a high temperature, which fuses the glaze and
makes the stoneware clay very strong.
