Beginner info

What is a Slab Roller? Everything You Need to Know

There are lots of different ways to make nice even smooth clay slabs for slab pottery. One way to make a slab is to use a slab roller. But what is a slab roller? And how does it work? A slab roller is a piece of equipment, that makes large slabs of clay easily. Clay…

Hard Slab Pottery – Tips on Stiff Slab Construction

If you’re starting to learn about slab pottery, you may have come across the term ‘hard slab pottery’ and wondered what it is. Slab pottery can be made when the clay slab is still soft and flexible. This is soft slab construction. Or it can be made when the clay slab has been left to…

Soft Slab Ceramics – A Guide to Working with Flexible Slabs

If you are new to making slab pottery, you may have heard the term ‘soft slab ceramics’ and wondered what it is. Soft slab ceramics involves constructing pottery out of slabs of clay that are still moist and pliable. Sometimes soft slabs are used straight after they have been freshly rolled. Other times they are…

What is a Slab in Ceramics? – The Humble Clay Slab

If you’re reading this article, you’ve probably heard the term ‘clay slab’ being used and wondered exactly what it meant. So, what is a slab in ceramics? A clay slab is a portion of clay that has been flattened into a sheet. Clay slabs are most often made by using a rolling pin or a…

How Much Does a Kiln Cost? – Buyers Guide

If you want to start firing your own work, one of your first questions will be how much does a kiln cost? Buying a kiln is a bit like buying a car as there is a big price range depending on the size and power of the kiln. Kilns range in price from small tabletop…

Is Polish Pottery Oven Safe? – Can it Take the Heat?

Ovens are now part and parcel of every household’s kitchen for faster preparation of various dishes. The biggest concern when using an oven is pondering if your ceramics are oven safe. Polish pottery is no exception to this. And if you own some pieces, you have probably wondered if Polish pottery is oven safe. Polish…

What is UNIKAT Polish Pottery? And What Makes it Special?

Polish pottery is famous for being hand-made and hand-painted by skilled artisans. It is rare to find one piece that is exactly the same as the other, as each piece is a product of an individual artist. You may have heard of UNIKAT Polish pottery and wondered what it is. Here’s what you need to…

What do Boleslawiec Pottery Marks Look Like?

Boleslawiec pottery marks are primarily used to identify the quality, company, and country of origin. They are usually located under the ceramics base providing a reliable means to tell authentic antique pieces. However, some marks are forgeries and you can’t easily distinguish them. This is because a good amount of time and effort is spent…

Washing Bisqueware – Is it a Waste of Time?

I’m in the habit of giving my bisque pottery a wipe down with a damp sponge before glazing. But I recently read that some potters never wipe or wash down their bisque ware. I wanted to know if I was wasting my time, so I looked into the pros and cons of washing bisqueware, and…

Underglaze Flaking, Cracking and Peeling – Top Solutions

I love using underglaze, and for the most part, I find it very versatile and reliable. However, just occasionally, I have had an issue with underglaze flaking, cracking, and peeling. So, I went on a mission to find out why this was happening, and this is what I have discovered… The most common cause of…

How to Tell How Old Pottery Is – 5 Ways to Date Pottery

It is not always easy to tell how old pottery is. In fact, it requires years of practice and significant expertise to accurately guess the age of pottery by just looking at it. It is especially difficult to determine the age of very ancient pieces as they rarely have markings, unlike those made during and…

How to Know if My Pottery is Valuable – 6 Factors at Play

There are several reasons why you may want to know if your pottery is valuable and by how much. You could be looking to sell it, know the price needed for its insurance, settlement, probate, trust planning, or collection. Whatever the case, it is important to know the worth of your pottery. Different pieces of…