Process

Crystalline pottery is a careful balance of art and science, shaped by precise routines. It ultimately comes down to two key processes: the chemistry of the glaze, and the precision of the firing schedule that produces successful crystal growth.

Each piece begins at the wheel. Weighed-out balls of smooth stoneware or porcelain clay are thrown in batches. Once carefully dried to a leather-hard consistency, they are trimmed and burnished.

Pots are then left out to become bone dry before being loaded into the kiln for their first firing. This first firing, or bisque firing, transforms the clay into ceramic while still allowing it to remain slightly porous - key for the next stage, glazing.

Crystalline glaze requires precise measuring and delicate application. Glazes are mixed in small batches and brushed on in coats to allow an even taper from top to bottom. This is crucial, as crystalline glazes are formulated to be fluid at high heat. To counteract excess glaze runoff, pedestal catchers are attached to the base of taller pots. Using a stable glaze midway can also help prevent excess glaze runoff.

Glazed pots are fired a second time following a strict schedule that is critical for crystal growth. The firing itself takes 14-16 hours, after which the kiln is left to cool slowly over the following couple of days.

Finished pots are carefully unloaded from the kiln. Pedestal catchers are released with a blowtorch and a confident tap of a mallet. Each piece then goes through a series of diamond pad polishing, leaving a silky-smooth bottom.

The result is a glazed surface where chemistry becomes art.