ClayPoetry creators Rasa and Justina shape and decorate their ceramic pieces by hand in their Kaunas studio in Lithuania. Every mug is made with care and has its own character. Here is how the process works.<\/p>\n
We work with plastic white clay suitable for low-temperature firing. For one of our signature mug designs, we weigh out approximately 450 g of clay and form it into a ball.<\/p>\n
We press a thumb into the clay ball and gently rotate it while widening the inside with our fingers. This pinch-pot<\/em> technique creates the organic shape that makes each mug unique.<\/p>\n Once the mug has taken shape, we press the ClayPoetry mark into its base. We make a separate clay handle, attach it carefully, smooth the surfaces and leave the mug to dry naturally for several days.<\/p>\n After drying, we smooth rough areas with an abrasive mesh, remove the dust and prepare the surface for decoration. We paint the mugs with colored clay slips known as engobes<\/em>, before the first firing.<\/p>\n The prepared mugs go into the kiln for a first, or bisque, firing at 1030\u00b0C. Afterwards, we rinse away dust and prepare them for glazing.<\/p>\n We dip the mugs into liquid glaze and fire them again. The glaze forms a glossy, food-safe surface suitable for everyday use when the process is complete.<\/p>\n3. Adding our maker’s mark and handle<\/h2>\n
4. Smoothing and decorating<\/h2>\n
5. First kiln firing<\/h2>\n
6. Glazing and final firing<\/h2>\n
The finished mug<\/h2>\n