| Clay Body
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Predominantly Valentine Clays White Earthenware (LF), though occasionally I also use Potclays 1146 Porcelain.
| | Terra Sigillata
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| Dry clay: | 10kg |
| Sodium hexametaphosphate: | 300g |
| Rain water: | 30 litres |
Most preferred clays are from WBB Devon Clays Ltd, Plymouth. These include Opal BLU and Opal TA, which provide a high yield terra sigillata. When exposed to surface carbonation techniques these white clays will provide ranges of greys and blacks.
Red terra sigillatas used are Potclays Keuper Red and Valentine Clays Standard Red clay bodies.
Once prepared and thouroughly mixed the terra sigillata is allowed to settle over a period of at least two weeks, when the finest particles are siphoned off into a separate container. This is then left to settle and separated into various grades of terra sigillata.
After first being sieved through a 200 mesh sieve the terra sigillata is sprayed on to the pot surface and is then built up in fine layers, sometimes over a number of days. Brushing and sponging techniques are also occassionally used.
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| Firing
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All work is pre-fired to a bisque temperature in the region of 950 - 1050 °C.
Surface carbonisation is achieved primarily from sawdust firings. These firings are controlled to burn very slowly over a number of days maintaining the intensity of heat.
I sometimes use sagger firing techniques which result in a more uniform surface to the work.
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| Finishing
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All work is subsequently wax polished using a blended beeswax, from Fiddes and Son Ltd, Cardiff.
Gold leaf - from Stuart R Stevenson, London.
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