https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1 daily 0.75 2026-01-03 https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/13-amazing-reasons-to-make-a-pottery-glaze-from-fallen-leaf-ashes monthly 0.5 2026-01-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/5d5175f4-0871-44cc-a3d3-4bfacc84a464/how+to+make+pottery+ebooks+by+oxford+clay.jpg Blog - 13 Amazing Reasons to Make a Pottery Glaze from Fallen Leaf Ashes. - This blog post is an extract from the book Leaf Ash Glazing: A Guide to Sustainable Pottery Glazing with Fallen Leaves https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/how-to-make-a-pottery-glaze-from-fallen-leaves monthly 0.5 2024-09-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/5d5175f4-0871-44cc-a3d3-4bfacc84a464/how+to+make+pottery+ebooks+by+oxford+clay.jpg Blog - How to make an ash pottery glaze from fallen leaves - This blog post is an extract from the book Leaf Ash Glazing: A Guide to Sustainable Pottery Glazing with Fallen Leaves https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/be04c2d9-8c87-44b2-9171-a44b2d0b9945/Making+a+leaf+ash+glaze.jpg Blog - How to make an ash pottery glaze from fallen leaves - Make it stand out I use this ash glazing recipe when making a pottery glaze from fallen leaves: 40 parts - Cornish Stone (powdered from a pottery supplier) 40 parts - Sieved Leaf Ash (you can also use any plant-based ash such as wood ash). 20 parts - Quartz (powdered from a pottery supplier) https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/is-agromining-the-future-of-colour-in-pottery-glazes monthly 0.5 2023-08-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/449549c4-0169-4e4e-903c-dd53f5f41bd3/Cherry+Laurel+Ash+Pottery+Glaze.jpg Blog - Is Agromining The Future of Colour in Pottery Glazes? - Make it stand out A pottery glaze made from Cherry Laurel leaf ash, coloured pink and brown entirely by the minerals and trace metals occurring naturally in the plant. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/e34c2de5-eb2c-49e2-b035-91a36430c84c/Rhubarb+Ash+Pottery+Glaze.jpg Blog - Is Agromining The Future of Colour in Pottery Glazes? - Make it stand out A pottery glaze made from Rhubarb leaf ash, coloured entirely by the minerals and trace metals occurring naturally in the plant. https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/the-problem-with-the-colour-blue-in-pottery monthly 0.5 2023-07-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/a4d28e1d-bee0-4147-9617-a00afa90eb8a/Blue+pottery+the+problem+with+the+colour+blue+in+pottery+.jpg Blog - The Problem With the Colour Blue In Pottery - Make it stand out Pottery coloured blue with Cobalt https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/what-is-bisque-ware-in-ceramics monthly 0.5 2023-06-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/a59a4d16-aa27-4ce1-81cd-de718313dd9e/A+bisqueware+pot+being+lifed+out+of+the+kiln.jpg Blog - What is Bisqueware in Ceramics? - Make it stand out A bisque-fired pot being lifted out of an electric pottery kiln https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/5-easy-ways-to-stop-warping-when-making-pottery monthly 0.5 2023-05-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/f9c4a8ca-57a8-4cc3-ac34-b972fb84c70f/three+warped+pots.jpg Blog - 5 Easy Ways to Stop Warping When Making Pottery - Make it stand out Warping in Pottery is when pots slump or move out of shape during drying or firing. https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/how-to-fire-pottery-what-is-a-kiln-firing-schedule monthly 0.5 2023-04-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/a2616bfe-63bc-4c59-b4fc-dd6578896837/Electric+Kiln+at+Oxford+Clay+handmade+ceramics+.jpg Blog - How to Fire Pottery. What is a Kiln Firing Schedule? - Make it stand out The Electric Kiln used at Oxford Clay. You can see the kiln programmer on the right-hand side. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/2f992102-24a8-4d21-8edc-311c3756dc79/Electric+Kiln+firing+schedule+.jpg Blog - How to Fire Pottery. What is a Kiln Firing Schedule? - Make it stand out The Kiln Firing Schedule Used at Oxford Clay https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/what-is-raku-pottery monthly 0.5 2023-03-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/c81ac639-4246-4860-801b-f93b55c994d9/A+bin+with+straw+with+a+raku+pot+inside.jpg Blog - What is Raku Pottery? - Make it stand out A raku fired pot being dropped into a metal container of straw https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/a6b48379-4fcc-4177-a358-0774408c352e/A+stoneware+glaze+that+looks+like+raku+but+that+can+be+fired+in+an+electric+kiln+.jpg Blog - What is Raku Pottery? - Make it stand out This high-fire stoneware glaze (recipe below) looks like a raku-fired pot. https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/how-to-make-pottery-step-by-step-from-clay-to-finished-pot monthly 0.5 2023-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/6cabaf5e-f152-4a38-a409-3658473d85cd/Making+Pottery+at+Oxford+Clay+.jpg Blog - How to Make Pottery Step by Step (from clay to finished pot!) - Make it stand out Drying pottery at Oxford Clay https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/five-tips-for-pulling-handles-in-pottery monthly 0.5 2023-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/1606077659795-8O8FGWB82SHYS8VUP8F3/a+wet+handle+drying+in+position Blog - 5 Best Tips for Pulling Handles in Pottery - Tip #4 Set the handle in the same position it will be on the pot Why? When I was learning to pull handles I followed the method of hanging them off the edge of tables to dry a little before attaching them. But I found that if the handle was too wet it was tricky to attach and I often accidentally damaged the smooth finish of the handle. If the handle was too dry, it often cracked when I curved it into the shape I wanted. So I started setting handles into the curved shape I wanted as soon as I’d made them. I now let handles dry to the leather-hard stage in this position before attaching them to the pot. This is a much better method that results in less cracking and damage to the handle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/1606080891166-CHWHYSGAHQUTR5YL3S1V/using%2Ba%2Bdecorating%2Bscraper%2Bto%2Bchop%2Ba%2Bhandle%2B.jpg Blog - 5 Best Tips for Pulling Handles in Pottery - Tip #5 Use a decorating tool to cut the handle When the handle has dried to the leather-hard stage I use a decorator’s filler scraper tool to chop the handle to the right size. The tool cuts right across both ends of the handle, ensuring that the correct angle for attaching the handle is cut every time. Once the handle is cut I hold it up to the side of the pot to check that it looks like the correct size for the pot. https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/five-great-reasons-to-make-your-own-pottery-glaze monthly 0.5 2023-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/1d703377-8a57-4e4e-a073-92d5b474c348/A+pot+coloured+with+Verdigris+made+from+recycled+copper.jpg Blog - 5 Great Reasons to Make Your Own Pottery Glaze - Make it stand out An ash glazed pot coloured with Verdigris made from recycled Copper. https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/5-simple-ways-for-potters-to-save-electricity monthly 0.5 2023-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/81b4d125-6e9a-41dc-8acb-2271561b9c39/Drying+pots+with+a+desk+fan+rather+than+a+heat+gun+saves+so+much+electricity+.jpg Blog - 5 Simple Ways For Potters to Save Electricity - Make it stand out Drying pottery with a desk fan uses one ninetieth of the electricity of a heat gun! https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/how-pottery-can-be-packaged-in-an-environmentally-friendly-way monthly 0.5 2023-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/92fccd81-5a7e-479b-b565-86a908a6f7a7/Ceramic+glazes+can+be+made+from+plant+ashes+each+plant+makes+a+different+glaze+depending+on+the+soil+it+grew+in+and+the+chemical+composition+of+the+plant+make+your+own+glaze+Eco+conscious+Pottery+Glazing+minimal+ha.jpg Blog - How Pottery Can be Packaged in an Environmentally Friendly Way - Make it stand out Vegan-friendly paper tape made with vegetable glue. This tape bonds with paper and card. https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/pottery-and-climate-change monthly 0.5 2023-02-11 https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/glazes-made-from-plant-ash monthly 0.5 2024-04-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/ee07b55e-0381-4b07-99ab-6366f8710ab1/Ceramic+glazes+can+be+made+from+plant+ashes+each+plant+makes+a+different+glaze+depending+on+the+soil+it+grew+in+and+the+chemical+composition+of+the+plant+make+your+own+glaze+Eco+conscious+Pottery+Glazing..jpg Blog - Making Pottery Glazes From Plant Ashes - Make it stand out This glaze was made with fig leaves that had fallen off the tree in autumn - it’s shiny and slightly cream coloured with faint brown speckles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/46c3ab4d-c4f9-4706-b134-9c328fb5e181/Ceramic+glazes+can+be+made+from+plant+ashes+each+plant+makes+a+different+glaze+depending+on+the+soil+it+grew+in+and+the+chemical+composition+of+the+plant+make+your+own+glaze+Eco+conscious+Pottery+Glazing.jpg Blog - Making Pottery Glazes From Plant Ashes - Make it stand out This glaze was made with comfrey plant leaves and stems that had died back in early winter - it’s a white colour with a matt surface. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/f3b20339-b5fc-40d2-9cb7-bde667b9f0ac/Ceramic+glazes+can+be+made+from+plant+ashes+each+plant+makes+a+different+glaze+depending+on+the+soil+it+grew+in+and+the+chemical+composition+of+the+plant+make+your+own+glaze+Eco+conscious+Pottery+Glazing+minimal.jpg Blog - Making Pottery Glazes From Plant Ashes - Make it stand out This glaze was made with Black Bean pods after the dried beans had been shelled. It’s shiny and very speckled, indicating a high presence of trace metals in the bean pod ash. https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/what-is-raw-glazing monthly 0.5 2023-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/96ba6b78-efd5-4f08-8ca7-1003a9a179cf/Ingredients+ready+to+make+a+glaze.+Ball+clay+is+one+of+the+ingredients+which+can+allow+effective+raw+glazing Blog - What is ‘Raw Glazing’? - Make it stand out Ingredients ready to make a glaze. Ball clay is one of the glaze ingredients which can allow effective raw glazing. https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/recycling-electrical-waste-into-pottery-colour monthly 0.5 2024-04-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/e2999e6d-673c-49d0-8a4a-c3831240477f/A+box+of+cables+bought+from+a+charity+shop+to+make+into+a+pottery+colourant+called+verdigris..jpg Blog - Recycling Electrical Waste into Pottery Colour - Make it stand out Some of the electrical waste purchased from charity shops https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/263f7dcc-4a6a-4c6e-824a-652f34782a54/Copper+wire+oxidising+in+a+dish+and+turning+greeny+blue+as+it+produces+a+colourant+called+verdrigis.++.jpg Blog - Recycling Electrical Waste into Pottery Colour - Make it stand out Copper wire recycled from old electrical goods oxidising in a dish. The blue green pigment produced is called Verdigris. https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/doughnut-economics-and-pottery monthly 0.5 2023-02-11 https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/managing-water-use-in-pottery monthly 0.5 2023-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/2b4ccc37-29ee-4239-ab90-231f3164cebc/potters+can+make+their+practice+more+environmentally+friendly+by+collecting+waste+water+from+roofs+in+a+water+butt+and+using+it+to+wash+their+pottery+equipment+.jpg Blog - Managing water use in pottery - Make it stand out Collecting wastewater with a water butt https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/can-clay-be-recycled monthly 0.5 2023-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/1613893893172-M8EORJQUPJP4W9HQQ2MS/a+photograph+of+a+bucket+of+clay+scraps+that+have+been+dried+and+are+ready+for+reclaiming+back+into+usable+clay Blog - Can Clay be Recycled? https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/what-is-paperclay monthly 0.5 2023-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/7917279d-3e87-4a2d-b3cd-1362429d9bf0/what+is+a+pottery+glaze+made+of+pottery+glaze+resources+for+potters%2C+stoneware+glaze+recipes+learn+how+to+make+your+own+eco-friendly+pottery+glaze+which+is+vegan+and+free+of+harmful+metal+oxides+in+this+ebook+from+Oxford+Clay+handmade+ceramics+.jpg Blog - What is paperclay? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/five-reasons-pots-crack-and-how-potters-can-stop-it-from-happening monthly 0.5 2023-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/1603227956222-1SQDJIE0YI1D12OGJON1/clay-pots-drying-slowly-in-a-plastic-box-with-a-lid Blog - Why do pots crack? - 1. ) Clay is drying out too fast If one part of a pot dries out much faster than another, stresses are placed on the pot and cracking can occur. This is particularly the case for attachments such as handles or if a rim is much thinner than the pot body. Prevention: potters can make a homemade ‘damp-box’ to dry work slowly and evenly. By storing work in a plastic storage box with a lid it prevents work from drying too quickly. Work will still dry in the box but at a much slower rate. I use an 18 litre ‘really useful storage box’ from Argos which was £10. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/1603230046749-85YITPHPZTJE375H56LV/bottom-of-a-slip-cast-pot-which-has%3Dbeen-cracked Blog - Why do pots crack? - 3.) Slip casting with a slip recipe low in ball clay In the book ‘The Essential Guide to Mold Making & Slip Casting’ Andrew Martin explains that cracking in slip cast pottery can be due to low levels of ball clay in the slip recipe. Recipes high in ball clay produce pots that are strong and can withstand handling at the greenware stage. Prevention: reducing the levels of china clay and increasing the ball clay content in the recipe will add strength and help prevent cracks from occurring. Andrew Martin’s book also contains some tried and tested slip casting recipes. https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/pottery-in-oxfordshire-a-brief-history monthly 0.5 2022-05-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/1613387826117-BVT4V5DREYSX0BJZRHO1/there%2Bwere%2Bmany%2Bsites%2Bin%2Boxfordshire%2Bwhere%2Bthe%2Bromans%2Bmade%2Bpottery%2Bthis%2Bmap%2Bshows%2Byou%2Bwere%2Bsome%2Bsignificant%2Bkiln%2Bsites%2Bwere%2Bfound.jpg Blog - Pottery in Oxfordshire - a brief history - The Pottery Industry in Roman Times The Oxford Pottery Industry in Roman Times During Roman times a major pottery industry flourished in Oxford from the 1st to the 5th centuries. A line of kilns have been found on the grounds of the Churchill Hospital in the Headington area of Oxford, and another significant kiln site has been found on Between Towns Road in Cowley. Romans made a particular type of cooking pot in Oxford called ‘mortaria’. Mortaria’s were made of white iron-free clay found at Shotover Hill in Oxford mixed with locally sourced grit which was pressed into the base of the pot for strength. Oxford-made mortaria were sold throughout Roman Britain and pots from the Oxford area have been found in Scotland, Paris and Bruges. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/1613649451206-ZIG33DQTBMZ562Y2R63P/a+13th+or+14th+century+jug+found+on+the+site+of+hertford+college+in+oxford+this+jug+is+now+at+the+ashmolean+museum+in+oxford.jpg Blog - Pottery in Oxfordshire - a brief history Oxford Pottery in the Middle Ages After the decline of the Roman pottery industry, pottery continued to be made in Oxfordshire although on a much smaller scale. Even though Romans had used sophisticated domed kilns with upright flues, it took until the 9th century for these to be reintroduced back into Oxfordshire. In the 11th century, potteries existed at Bladon and Woodstock, but they made pottery for the local market and it was not traded elsewhere. Many pieces of medieval pottery have been found in Oxford. This jug is thought to have been made in the 13th or 14th century and was found on the site of Hertford College in Oxford. It shows a distinctive ‘face mask’ design that is typical of pottery made in Oxford at this time. This jug is one of may found in Oxford kept as part of the collection at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/1613387928141-ADEQLWXA4UFZKP1MQKDM/the+kiln+at+nettlebed+pottery+in+oxfordshire+this+type+of+kiln+is+called+a+bottle+kiln.jpg Blog - Pottery in Oxfordshire - a brief history - Pottery in The Middle Ages https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/dragonflies-and-symbolism monthly 0.5 2022-08-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/1614547103916-2EOYS78JSLKGI9J67MKX/DR2EE4%7E1.JPG Blog - The Symbol of a Dragonfly - As a totem or ‘spirit animal’ Animal totem’s or symbolism is the idea that spirit guides assist and speak to humans through the form or animals. This idea is found in many cultures in the world (3). As a spirit animal, the dragonfly represents having the wisdom and resilience to adapt to change. Because the dragonfly changes form throughout its life, it represents becoming your true self through transformation (4). The dragonfly also represents a connection to nature and the ability to see the true nature of situations (3). https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/how-long-does-it-take-to-make-a-pot monthly 0.5 2023-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/1628581265294-O51ZSQHBQYUGQDJJJ416/How+long+does+it+take+to+make+a+pot+and+infographic+showing+the+timeline+of+production+at+oxford+clay+taking+17+days+in+total+.jpg Blog - How long does it take to make a pot? https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/corporate-activism-3-ways-business-can-be-a-force-for-good-in-the-world monthly 0.5 2023-02-11 https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/what-is-design-for-the-environment monthly 0.5 2023-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/1619642943621-BR0HXJGQAJ62I4Z4XA8O/Designing+for+the+environment+in+pottery+and+ceramics+and+all+the+aspects+homeware+can+be+made+more+eco-friendly+and+vegan+friendly+.jpg Blog - What is Design for the Environment? https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/recycling-wood-ash-into-a-glaze monthly 0.5 2023-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/1613893785063-S4U90PTB9O9IASQ7863B/WH12EA%7E1.JPG Blog - Recycling wood ash into a glaze - Different plant and wood ashes make different coloured pottery glazes. This photograph shows how different a wood ash glaze can be when different types of wood ash are used. Exactly the same glaze recipe was used in each of these glaze tests. The tester tile shows a glaze made from the ashes of an Ash Tree. The glaze is semi-matt and is mostly creamy white with slight flecks of brown. The heart shape is glazed using wood from a pizza restaurant. The pizza restaurant ash makes an entirely matt glaze that produces a purple colour with some large speckles of brown, when fired. https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/what-makes-colour-in-ceramicsnbsp monthly 0.5 2023-02-11 https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/blog-post-title-four-de9r7-9yzl3 monthly 0.5 2023-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/1608290518828-6TSZH17SUWTX1TLRE75K/slip-clay.jpg Blog - The 6 different stages of clay - 1. ) Slip Slip is clay with added water to make it into a paste or liquid. Use: Slip is most commonly used to join pieces of wet or leather hard clay together. It can also be used decoratively. Colour can be added to slip to make a decorating medium which can be painted on to wet or leather hard clay or applied in lines with a pipette (‘slip trailed’). Slip can also be mixed with chemicals to make it extra runny and used with a plaster mould to cast pieces of pottery in a process known as ‘slip casting’. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/1608290483553-KKYJCYFT2VOMYITI709G/wet-clay.jpg Blog - The 6 different stages of clay - 2.) Wet clay Wet clay is used by many Potters to produce their work. It usually comes in 12.5kg plastic bags from pottery suppliers who make the clay up using different combinations of rocks and clays. It must be kept wrapped in plastic at this stage to keep it in a usable state. Use: Wet clay can be used to make an infinite array of pieces using many different techniques. It can be used to throw pots on the wheel, roll out flat slabs, to clay shapes cut out with cookie cutters, pull handles, impress marks in or hand build sculptures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/1608290441813-7J0WZEQ2ZW5HJEQNNQHR/leather-hard-clay.jpg Blog - The 6 different stages of clay - 3.) Leather-hard clay When wet clay has dried slightly but is not fully dry it is known as ‘leather-hard’. Use: Leather-hard is a useful clay state, because the clay is strong but still wet enough to be shaped. Pots thrown on the wheel are now strong enough to have their bases ‘turned’ where the pot is turned upside-down the foot ring is carved whilst on the wheel. Leather-hard is often the state when flat slabs of clay are joined together to make 3D structures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/1608290407700-X47V3KHS01MRJE9L97YK/dry-clay.jpg Blog - The 6 different stages of clay - 4.) Dry clay Dry clay is also known as ‘greenware’. It is when clay is at its most fragile, and needs careful handling to prevent breakages. Dry clay needs to be fired in the kiln in order to make it strong enough to use. Use: Any sharp edges that are not smoothed at this stage will become solid in the bisque firing. Final finishing of work is done with a damp sponge. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/1608290366712-97E3X09SPC4E1STX5NZ8/bisque-fired-clay.jpg Blog - The 6 different stages of clay - 5.) Bisque ‘Bisque’ refers to clay which has been fired once. For stoneware clay this firing reaches temperatures of 950oc which permanently changes the chemical and physical nature of the clay. Clay at this stage is hard but still porous enough to absorb glaze. Use: This is the stage at which glaze is applied ready for the final firing. Work can be dipped into glaze or glaze can be poured over the bisque pot. Water is absorbed into the clay making the glaze stick to the surface of the pot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/1608290334969-5ZMKYMRXQC6BJGFZ5MOY/glaze-fired-clay.jpg Blog - The 6 different stages of clay - 6.) Glaze ware After a second firing to 1260oc for stoneware clay, the clay and glaze have fused making a non porous surface. Hopefully the firing has resulted in an evenly melted glaze which has not run too much (sticking the pot to the kiln shelf!). Use: This is the final, finished stage, although sand paper can be used to smooth any remaining sharp edges. Ideally there should be no glaze faults such as ‘crazing’ when the glaze cracks or ‘shivering’ when the glaze flakes and peels away from the clay. https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/blog-post-title-two-zn3nh monthly 0.5 2023-06-02 https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/blog-1/blog-post-title-four-de9r7-lr26z monthly 0.5 2023-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/1604085521227-WMM8T1XNCG8H4AY9ALKP/pots-stacked-in-a-kiln Blog - How much energy does it take to fire a pot? - The idea of a pot being fired to temperatures 1260oc seems hard to imagine. The pots become red-hot in the kiln melting any powdered glaze on the surface into glass. Pots fired to this temperature are known as ‘stoneware’ and by the time they get to this second firing they have already been ‘bisque’ fired to 950oc. It sounds like this would take a huge amount of energy to get a kiln to these temperatures, right? 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https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/917eed4f-5b12-40fe-875a-887983f84ead/Katherine+Tomlinson+the+founder+of+Oxford+Clay+Handmade+Ceramics.jpg https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/our-story daily 0.75 2026-03-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d97bf677e4d3c11df6d859c/7e19b385-5af9-4b61-82cd-ab109fe0c3af/Katherine+Tomlinson+the+founder+of+Oxford+Clay+Handmade+Ceramics+making+pottery.jpg Our Story Welcome to Oxford Clay. 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