The production process
1. The sound
I am the Alpha (α), the birth of every ceramic: The clay is mixed!
Before anything can be shaped, the clay is made in the workshop in Taizé itself.
Our clay is created from a careful blend of natural minerals like feldspar and silica, combined with kaolin and water.
This process requires the utmost care and experience.
Step 1:
Mix
A balanced clay mixture without artificial additives is made from various natural raw materials. Purely mineral, organic, regional. The recipe has been refined over many years.
Step 2:
Presses
To remove air bubbles and create a uniform, stable mass, the mixed clay is pressed and the remaining water is displaced. A crucial step for the later quality of the product.
Step 3:
Cutting
Next, the pressed clay is cut into blocks. This creates the raw material for all further work steps. Each block is ready to be shaped into something new.
2. Forms
On the potter's wheel or in the casting process, the blocks are shaped by hand. Each product is created individually with a steady hand, trained eye, and a feel for the material. The small differences in the result are unavoidable in genuine handcrafted work: they make each piece unique.
3. Drying
The freshly shaped pieces rest for several days to allow the residual moisture to slowly escape. Only in this way does the material remain stable and free of stress for the further process.
4. First Degree Burn
The so-called bisque firing lasts between 24 hours and five days, depending on the shape and size. At temperatures of up to 1000 °C, the product becomes durable. Now the good piece is ready for glazing.
5. Time for the glaze
Each glaze is carefully developed and mixed by hand in the monastery itself. This practice has a long tradition: decades ago, the brothers of Taizé began experimenting with natural resources such as leaves and woods from the nearby forest to create colors and surfaces that harmonize with the surroundings of Taizé. Today, the glazes are made from natural minerals.
6. Glazing
The ceramics are dipped by hand into the glaze.
Our glazes consist exclusively of mineral components and contain no artificial additives, microplastics, or heavy metals. They are completely food-safe, durable, and long-lasting. Each glaze reveals its effect only after the high-temperature firing: sometimes glossy and deep, sometimes matte and earthy, but always lively and harmonious.
7. Second fire, the completion
I am the Omega (Ω). In the final step, the product is fired at up to 1280 °C for about 12 hours. The glaze fuses with the body, making the surface dense, food-safe, and glossy or satin matte. A finished piece full of craftsmanship, history, and soul.
The finished product
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Bowls & Dishes
Handcrafted Bowls & DishesOur handcrafted bowls & dishes combine traditional craftsmanship with...
