I ordered a Whipped Dog shaving brush in a custom firehouse ceramic handle a few weeks ago. Since it was a custom ceramic handle that was made to order, and a large one at that, the first handle developed a crack when the potter put it in the kiln. WD's potter is Keith Thomson who's an established ceramic artist and trainer. Both Keith and Megan from WD have been keeping me updated on the progress of the handle and Keith has been very kind in pictorially documenting the progress of the handle and sharing those pictures with me.
It's pretty cool to see a piece of clay take shape in to a fine shaving brush and I'm sharing the progress in pictures here for your viewing pleasure, with permission from Keith!
Clay being shaped in pottery wheel:
After drying the basic shape, finer shaping of the clay into a handle:
Boring the knot hole after further drying:
Glazing of the handle in preparation for firing in the kiln:
The final handle, after firing in the kiln:
Please note that the finished handle picture is of the first handle that cracked and the crack can be seen in the lower portion of the handle. The second and the actual handle that will be shipped to me came out fine, as you will see in the next post.
It's pretty cool to see a piece of clay take shape in to a fine shaving brush and I'm sharing the progress in pictures here for your viewing pleasure, with permission from Keith!
Clay being shaped in pottery wheel:
After drying the basic shape, finer shaping of the clay into a handle:
Boring the knot hole after further drying:
Glazing of the handle in preparation for firing in the kiln:
The final handle, after firing in the kiln:
Please note that the finished handle picture is of the first handle that cracked and the crack can be seen in the lower portion of the handle. The second and the actual handle that will be shipped to me came out fine, as you will see in the next post.
