Make your own handmade stoneware

The manufacture of handmade pottery began in 25,000 BC. C. and is considered the oldest crafts. The first pottery to be made was a ceramic pot made by hand to hold water. In Egypt, around 3,000 – 4,000 BC, ceramics were carved by hand, since at that time the pottery wheel had not yet been invented. But when it was created, pottery has evolved. New shapes were made and the potteries are more symmetrical.

Artisanal pottery is still practiced to this day. There are thousands of potters who make artisan ceramics all over the world. Additionally, handmade pottery still serves a functional purpose; it is also a way of expressing art. There are many techniques and styles used by modern potters, yet they still use the basics. Due to these changes, a handmade stoneware with a unique appearance was Aardewerk uit Tunesië.

Handmade stoneware is famous for its non-porous texture and scratch-resistant characteristics. There are times when porcelain is believed to be a type of stoneware, but porcelain is white and often transparent. There are two options for making beautiful stoneware, with or without a pottery wheel, although the former is much preferred.

Before starting to make your handmade stoneware, it is advisable to prepare the utensils and other necessary elements that are the following: apron, clay, water, gaze, brushes and pottery wheel. You should also choose a job that is flat, smooth, and wide enough to make the job easier.

To make artisan stoneware, follow these simple steps.

Air bubbles must be removed from the clay by wedging, kneading, and tossing. Then, for the conformity of the assembled pieces, the clay must be weighed, but first, by wedging it. Stoneware is often made from clay which is a heavy mix to have a higher strength than the ceramic. You also have to choose what color you will use. Clay colors range from beige to white, but the most common are brown to grayish.

Mold the artisan stoneware to the desired shape. After which, apply the glaze over the handmade pottery once it has dried. The glaze can be prepared or purchased according to the taste of the potter. The enamel will serve as a coating for your artisan stoneware. It also acts as a sealer to preserve richness of color and texture.

Next, the artisan stoneware is placed in the oven. High temperatures are usually fired in stoneware to enhance its colors. However, if muted colors are desired, low temperatures can be used. Additionally, high-temperature firing gives the hard-finished look of handmade pottery.

Making artisan ceramics is an art. Usually this handmade stoneware is durable and will certainly last even if the potter who made it has passed away. In each pottery there is a story that is not told, so it will be a good relic for future generations, especially if you make it by hand personally.