Welcome to the magical world of clay!

As you experiment with different clays, you will, like me, discover an incredible variety of possibilities for expressing your creativity. Each clay has its own unique properties that affect formability, texture, color, and firing characteristics. By choosing the right clay, you can create everything from tiny, detailed jewelry to magnificent sculptures. Different types of clay also have different technical properties that affect how you work with them. Some clays are more plastic and easily moldable, which is ideal for turning or hand-shaping. Other clays are more stable and allow for the creation of large, impressive works.

Earthenware or stoneware?

It's not really the clay that determines whether it's earthenware or stoneware, it's the temperature the clay is fired at that determines which variant it will be. There are advantages and disadvantages to both variants and here too it depends on what result and what properties you are aiming for.

Earthenware

Earthenware is fired at up to approx. 1100°. After firing, the pores in the clay are still open, which allows it to absorb and release moisture. All terracotta pots we have are made of earthenware and you can see that a pot, for example, becomes darker when you have watered the plant, meaning the clay absorbs water. This is a great advantage for flower pots in particular, as the pot helps maintain the water balance and the plant does not become overwatered as easily as the pot absorbs and retains moisture. Other advantages of earthenware are that it is lighter than stoneware as it contains air. Ceramics are less likely to bend, warp or crack during firing as they are not exposed to such high temperatures. The air in the clay also insulates against heat, which can be an advantage in coffee cups, for example.

The negative aspects of earthenware are that it is not as durable as stoneware. It chips more easily and the clay can absorb moisture, which can easily cause the glaze to crack. Ceramics cannot be washed in the dishwasher and are not as durable to use in the oven or microwave.

Keep in mind that many clays that are considered stoneware also have a wide recommended temperature range and can often be fired as earthenware, see the recommended temperature for each clay.

Recommended clays from the range:
354 Red earthenware clay
441 Raku earthenware clay
24 Light earthenware clay

I am happy to bring more varieties upon request, please get back to me with your requests.

Stoneware

Stoneware is fired at a high temperature, around 1200-1300°, making it more durable than earthenware. Cups and bowls do not chip as easily as earthenware. The clay sinteres when exposed to the high temperatures in the kiln, which means that the pores fuse together and the clay becomes completely waterproof even without a glaze. Stoneware is dishwasher, oven and microwave safe.

Recommended clays from the range:
240 Light stoneware clay
254 Light stoneware clay
930 Light lava clay
931 Light lava clay, large dots
933 Linen-colored lava clay
391 Linen-colored stoneware clay
371 Black-burning stoneware clay
551 Red stoneware clay
596 Red stoneware clay
376 Black-burning stoneware clay

I am happy to bring more varieties upon request, please get back to me with your requests.

Modern clays are precisely adapted to different temperatures to give the best possible results, read the package to see the recommended firing temperature.

Chamotte

Chamotte usually consists of burnt, crushed clay that is added to improve the properties of the clay. The clay then gets a coarser and more textured consistency. Chamotte acts as reinforcement and improves the properties and durability of the clay. It gives the clay strength and shape stability, and makes it less prone to cracking during drying and firing.

The size of the grains and the amount of chamotte are what determine how the clay can be used.

Clay with 0-30% chamotte up to 0.2mm is a good all-round clay. It works great to turn with, is excellent for rolling, ringling and smaller sculptures. I think it's a good clay to start with and it's excellent as a course clay/school clay.

Recommended clays from the range:
254 Light stoneware clay
930 Light l avalera
931 Light lava clay, large dots
933 Linen-colored lava clay
391 Linen-colored stoneware clay
371 Black-burning stoneware clay
551 Red stoneware clay

I am happy to bring more varieties upon request, please get back to me with your requests.

Clay with a larger amount of chamotte or larger pieces of chamotte are best suited for various types of sculpting or curling of larger objects. The coarse clay often has an exciting texture that brings life and is a great contrast to turned objects.

Recommended clays from the range:

474 Light sculpture clay, stoneware
376 Black-burning stoneware clay
441 Raku earthenware clay
596 Red stoneware clay

I am happy to bring more varieties upon request, please get back to me with your requests.

Clay without chamotte

Clay without chamotte, on the other hand, consists of the basic clay without the addition of coarse particles. It is a finer clay that is soft and easy to shape. Clay without chamotte is usually more plastic and flexible, making it suitable for turning and creating smaller and perhaps more detailed works.

Recommended clays from the range:
240 Light stoneware clay

Right now I only have one clay without chamotte in the range, but I am happy to bring more if requested, please get back to me with your requests.

Would you rather find your clay based on technology,
So here are some tips!

Turning

For turning, it is best to use a clay with high plasticity and good formability. A stoneware clay with a fine grain structure works great for turning because it gives you the ability to create smooth and detailed shapes. This clay also gives you the ability to work with thin walls, which is ideal for creating elegant bowls, cups or vases on the lathe. So either a clay without chamotte at all or small chamotte grains up to 0.2mm.

Recommended clays from the range:
254 Light stoneware clay
240 Light stoneware clay
930 Light lava clay
931 Light lava clay, large dots
933 Linen-colored lava clay
391 Linen-colored stoneware clay
371 Black-burning stoneware clay
354 Red earthenware clay
551 Red stoneware clay

Ringling & rolling

To get the best possible results when rolling, we recommend stoneware clay with chamotte. Chamotte acts as reinforcement in the clay and improves the clay's properties and durability. It gives the clay strength and shape stability, and makes it less prone to cracking during drying and firing.

But the most important detail is to let your curled creation dry slowly. Preferably under plastic that you loosen more and more over a few days. This way you give the different composite parts time to slowly fuse together and you avoid cracks.

Recommended clays from the range:
254 Light stoneware clay
930 Light lava clay
931 Light lava clay, large dots
933 Linen-colored lava clay
391 Linen-colored stoneware clay
371 Black-burning stoneware clay
551 Red stoneware clay
474 Light sculpture clay, stoneware
376 Black fired stoneware clay
441 Raku earthenware clay
596 Red stoneware clay

Sculpture

For sculptural works, especially when creating large or more complex structures, clay with a high chamotte content is preferable. Chamotte gives the clay a coarser texture and makes it more resistant and stable during firing.

Recommended clays from the range:
474 Light sculpture clay, stoneware
376 Black-burning stoneware clay
441 Raku earthenware clay (Note, this is earthenware)
596 Red stoneware clay

I am happy to bring more varieties upon request, please get back to me with your requests.

If you are making small sculptures, clay with smaller pieces of chamotte works well.

Recommended clays from the range:
254 Light stoneware clay
930 Light lava clay
931 Light lava clay, large dots
933 Linen-colored lava clay
391 Linen-colored stoneware clay
371 Black-burning stoneware clay
591 Red stoneware clay
596 Red stoneware clay
376 Black-burning stoneware clay
354 Red earthenware clay

I am happy to bring more varieties upon request, please get back to me with your requests.

Cast

When casting, it is best to use a specific casting clay, which has a fine particle size and is designed to hold the shape well. Casting clay is usually a clay that contains a mixture of clay minerals and additives to give the clay good formability and strength after firing. Casting clay is purchased in powder form.

Recommended clays from the range:
208 Light casting clay, 25kg stoneware
208 Light casting clay, 5kg stoneware