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Each Lee Ceramics piece is hand thrown on the potter's wheel. The clay is first centered on the wheel. The piece is then gently shaped into form. Here we see a platter taking form.
In the next step, a thin veneer of colored clay slip, or engobe, is brushed onto the newly thrown and still wet piece. The different colored clay slips, or engobes, that we use are all mixed in our studio. Each is made of a combination of colored clay body stains, dry clay and water.
It takes 3 to 4 days until the piece is "bone dry". At this time a motif is sketched in pencil on the piece. Using a variety of etching tools, the motif is carved right into the piece. The etching tool carves through the colored slip to reveal the white stoneware clay beneath. This decorating technique is called sgraffito. Here the finishing touches are being made. The last of the background has been carved away and the piece is ready to go in the kiln.
Now the piece is ready to be fired. Every Lee ceramics piece goes through two kiln firings. The first is called the bisque fire. In the bisque fire the clay is heated to a temperature of 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. In the bisque fire the clay is changed from green ware, which would dissolve in water, to bisque ware. Bisque ware can be safely immersed in water. It takes approximately 12 hours for the gas kiln to reach the desired temperature. It then takes another 14 to 15 hours for the kiln to cool to below 300 degrees where upon the pieces can be safely removed from the kiln.
The bisque ware is now ready to be glazed. We mix our 100% lead free clear glaze in our studio, adding certain minerals and the right amount of water. The liquid glaze is then mixed thoroughly to a consistency of thick milk. We dip each piece in the liquid glaze to achieve a uniform coating of glaze. In the glaze firing, the pieces are heated to approximately 2,180 Fahrenheit. At this temperature the glaze melts, fusing itself with the clay, and forming a clear glossy finish that is permanent and impermeable to liquids. Once the kiln has reached temperature, the gas is turned off and the kiln is sealed up tight. Over the next 14 to 15 hours the pieces slowly cool to just less than 300 degrees when they can be safely removed from the kiln.
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