One-of-a-kind ceramics are recognized through their value, their aesthetics, and simply through being one-of-a-kind, unrepeatable pieces. Let’s explore, with Gomery, the value and the steps behind making this kind of product!
WHAT IS ONE-OF-A-KIND CERAMICS?
The name “one-of-a-kind handmade ceramics” is still fairly unfamiliar to many people. So what exactly is it? It’s a ceramic piece that has only one single existence in the world. That very uniqueness is what creates each piece’s distinct value. It’s meant for people who, the moment they see it, instantly understand this piece belongs only to them.
Every finished one-of-a-kind ceramic piece will differ in color and shape. Out of ten vases from the kiln, no two are alike. This is different from mold-cast, mass-produced ceramics. Each piece may look similar in shape, but a closer look reveals they’re never truly identical. This distinctive trait comes from the slight variation in hand-carved patterns or in the shape of each vase. This is exactly what creates the unique value of hand-thrown ceramics. One-of-a-kind ceramic products forgo the support…
If one-of-a-kind ceramics are a work of art, whoever appreciates its beauty must also be someone who loves beauty and knows how to enjoy something truly unique. These works are also seen as a showcase for the talent of the artisans who make one-of-a-kind ceramics.
A look at Gomery’s hand-thrown, one-of-a-kind ceramic pieces.
HOW IS A ONE-OF-A-KIND CERAMIC VASE MADE?
Every one-of-a-kind ceramic piece is meticulously and delicately crafted by artisans. With skillful, talented hands, each unique piece is created with incredible precision. What’s more, one-of-a-kind ceramics also follow special and truly distinctive processes. Making one-of-a-kind ceramics is a whole labor of devotion, including:
1. Selecting the clay
Clay for ceramics must be highly plastic, fine, and — importantly — insoluble in water. Clay types include white clay, red clay, or clay mixed with metal.
2. Processing and mixing the clay
After being cleaned, the clay is carefully filtered to remove impurities, then mixed with the necessary compounds.
3. Shaping the piece
This step is done entirely by hand, combining the potter’s wheel with hand-molding, coiling, and so on to form the ceramic’s shape. With skilled hands and careful shaping motions, the potter creates the desired shape. This step demands great dexterity, technique, and meticulous care.
4. Drying and touching up the raw piece
After shaping, the artisan dries the ceramic piece in a dry place to evaporate the moisture.
5. Decorating with patterns
Potters decorate their pieces in two ways: carving and painting. Before drying, the potter carves patterns and motifs onto the vase. After drying, they use a brush to paint decorative patterns directly onto the ceramic surface.
6. Making the glaze
The glaze used for one-of-a-kind ceramics is usually made from minerals like copper, zinc, or nickel.
The glaze is made using the traditional wet method. The glaze mineral is mixed with water. After letting the mixture settle, the top water and the bottom sediment are removed, leaving only the finest part for glazing.
In Gomery’s one-of-a-kind handmade ceramics collection, glaze is applied in 3 ways: pouring, dipping, and brush-painting. All done entirely by hand.
(Reference source: gomsubatrang.org.vn)
Explore the special traits of one-of-a-kind handmade ceramics with Gomery — we hope you’ve found some interesting and useful information. The value of a one-of-a-kind ceramic piece is elevated even further by its owner. Browse Gomery’s one-of-a-kind ceramic products, and we hope you’ll find a hand-thrown vase made just for you.
Gomery’s 2020 One-of-a-Kind Ceramics Collection
This article was written exclusively by Big E Co. for our partner Gomery. Under the motto “Every product reaching a customer is a gift,” Gomery always offers self-designed, one-of-a-kind ceramic products sourced from Vietnam’s leading ceramic villages, such as Bát Tràng and Bình Dương.