Trust the process
1. The clay
The birth of every ceramic: the clay is mixed!
Before any shaping can begin, the clay is made in the workshop in Taizé itself.
Our clay is made from a careful blend of natural minerals such as feldspar and silica, combined with kaolin and water.
This process requires the utmost care and experience.
Step 1:
Mixing the clay
A balanced clay blend is created from various natural raw materials without artificial additives. Purely mineral, organic, and regionally sourced. The recipe has been refined over the years.
Step 2:
Pressure is key
To remove air bubbles and create a even and stable mass, the mixed clay is pressed, displacing the remaining water. This is a crucial step for the final quality of the product.
Step 3:
The right cuts
The pressed clay is then cut into blocks. This creates the raw material for all subsequent steps. Each block is ready to be shaped into something new.
2. Forms
The blocks are shaped by hand on a potter's wheel or using a casting process. Each product is created individually with a steady hand, a trained eye, and a feel for the material. Small variations in the finished product are unavoidable with genuine handcrafting: they make each piece unique.
3. Drying
The freshly formed pieces rest for several days to allow any residual moisture to slowly escape. This is the only way to ensure the material remains stable and stress-free for the subsequent process.
4. First fire
The bisque firing process lasts between 24 hours and five days, depending on the shape and size. At temperatures of up to 1000 °C, the product becomes resistant, but is not yet finished; it is ready for glazing.
5. Mixing the glaze
Each glaze is carefully developed and mixed by hand in the monastery itself. This practice has a long tradition: Decades ago, the Taizé brothers began experimenting with natural resources such as leaves and wood from the nearby forest to create colors and surfaces that harmonize with Taizé's surroundings.
6. Glazing
The ceramic is dipped into the glaze by hand.
Our glazes consist exclusively of mineral components – completely free of synthetic additives, microplastics, or heavy metals. They are completely food-safe, robust, and durable. Each glaze reveals its full effect only after the high firing: sometimes glossy and deep, sometimes matte and earthy – but always vibrant and harmonious.
7. Second Burn, The Completion
In the final step, the product is fired at up to 1280°C for around 12 hours. The glaze fuses with the body, creating a dense, food-safe surface with a glossy or satin finish. A finished piece full of craftsmanship, history, and soul.
