how they are made
If you're not familiar with how the pieces are made, read on! Understanding the intricate process will make you appreciate your piece even more.
The first step is the moulding process. I wheel throw the clay into the mug form, where after a few days they are at a stage called 'leather hard'. This is the point where most of the decorating and refining is done. We trim the edges, add the handles, the grooves that give it more character, and any customisation elements like bows, gems or text!
They then dry for one to two weeks, depending on the weather, until they are bone dry and ready for painting, glazing, and firing.
After around ten days, the pieces are checked for warping, cracking, and any other imperfections that may have occurred during drying. If any flaws are found, we start over and remake the piece from scratch.
Once we're satisfied with the bone-dry mug, it gets washed for a smooth finish, painted with your chosen designs, and goes through its first firing called the 'bisque firing'. This is to ensure the clay is hardened with a surface suitable for absorbing glazes.
After that, they are sanded down and glazed. It needs to rest for a day or so to let the glaze set before going into the kiln for the final firing.
The kiln fires up to 1220 degrees Celsius, an extremely high temperature. The firing process takes about two days to reach its final temperature and cool down.
Overall, this entire process takes roughly two to four weeks for just one mug, and can extend to three to eight weeks if we need to remake it. Each piece goes through numerous stages before it's ready to be loved in its new home.
Every stage is challenging, as greenware clay is extremely fragile. Greenware is the stage between wet clay and fired ceramic, and any damage during this phase is catastrophic, requiring us to start over. Handles can snap simply from shrinking during drying.
Your new piece is made with immense love and care. I'm always so excited to send them out that I sometimes forget to take cute pictures, so please tag me on Instagram @byhaneulstudio !
If you have any questions or want updates, feel free to email me at info.haneulstudio@gmail.com
Thank you and love you! ❤️
Gloria xx
