How It's Made

 

 

The process of crafting a handmade stoneware ceramic horse pendant begins with the selection of high-quality clay, which is crucial for achieving the desired durability and aesthetic appeal. The artist first kneads the clay to ensure it is smooth and free of air bubbles, which can cause imperfections or breakage during firing. Using a combination of hand-building techniques, such as slab construction or pinching, the artist meticulously shapes the clay into a horse silhouette, paying close attention to the details that will define the pendant's character, such as the mane, tail, and facial features. Once the basic form is shaped, it's left to dry to a leather-hard consistency, allowing for finer detailing and the addition of any texture or decorative elements.

 

After the initial shaping and detailing, the horse pendant undergoes a bisque firing in a kiln, which hardens the clay and prepares it for glazing. This first firing is done at a lower temperature to ensure the pendant's structural integrity. Following the bisque fire, the artist applies glazes by hand, choosing colors and textures that enhance the pendant's features and add visual depth. Glazing not only contributes to the aesthetic quality of the piece but also seals the clay, making the pendant more durable. The glazed pendant is then fired at a higher temperature, which vitrifies the stoneware clay and glaze together, creating a glossy and resilient finish. The result is a unique, handmade stoneware ceramic horse pendant, rich in detail and craftsmanship, ready to be worn or gifted as a one-of-a-kind piece of art.