7 steps to a ceramic plate
From raw clay to the kiln, a handmade plate goes through seven stages, each one asking for patient hands and a careful eye.
A ceramic plate looks simple on the table, yet it travels a long way to get there, from a lump of raw clay to a glowing kiln.
1. Preparing the clay
The clay is sieved of grit and impurities, soaked, stirred into a slip and left to settle. The finer the clay, the less likely a piece is to crack in the kiln.
2. Wedging
The potter kneads the clay again and again to push out trapped air. Air pockets left behind are a common reason pieces burst during firing.
3. Shaping
A plate can be thrown on the wheel, pressed in a mould or shaped by hand. Each method gives its own character: even and consistent, or loose and rustic.
4. Drying and trimming
The greenware dries slowly in the shade, then the potter trims the foot and tidies the rim so the plate sits true.
5. Bisque firing
A first firing at around 800–900°C hardens the clay so it can be handled and takes glaze evenly.
6. Glazing
Glaze is dipped, poured or sprayed on. Its thickness decides the colour and effects that appear after firing.
7. Glaze firing
The final firing, often above 1,200°C, melts the glaze and fuses it to the body. Once the kiln cools, every plate is checked before it reaches the table.