Description
Audrey Blackman Porcelain was developed for modelling and throwing using the finest materials available.
Due to it’s high plasticity this body is not suitable for casting and is only available as a pugged clay.
Audrey Blackman Porcelain has a high degree of whiteness and a fantastic translucence that is one of the reasons for it being in our top three best selling clays across our clay body range.
We are aware that some of our customers may notice that there has been a recent change to the raw clay colour of both Audrey Blackman and ES600 paper clay. This change will not effect performance and the clay will be the same as previously noted.
For more information see here.
Optimum Firing Ranges for Porcelain
Following re-evaluation of our porcelain clays using the recently acquired temperature gradient kiln,
we have determined that the optimum firing range for Audrey Blackman Porcelain is 1220 – 1240C (cone 6 – 7).
About Audrey Blackman
Audrey Blackman was a British Sculptor and Ceramicist.
Audrey was renowned worldwide for creating ceramic figures and published a book in 1978, Rolled Pottery Figures on her techniques. Several examples of her sculpture and pottery art are held in a room named in her memory at St Cross College. You can also see a sculpture of hers within our Stoke on Trent Gallery.
You can find the technical information regarding firing range and clay shrinkage percentages here:
https://valentineclays.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Technical-Information.pdf
Additional information
Weight | 12.5 kg |
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Method | |
Colour | |
Texture | |
Firing range | 1220ºc – 1280ºc |
I do love this clay as it is so versatile for throwing, building and moulding. I have made mugs, mushrooms and bowls. I’ve also hand built mice and pair of small swans for a wedding cake topper. I’ve also used it in a silicone mould to form feathers very successfully.
It’s very smooth to throw and plastic enough to throw a large thin bowl with the help of a heat gun part the way through to stiffen it a little. It is a much cleaner clay to wedge and throw than most other clays.
When you first wire it out of the bag it does seem very stiff but soon loosens up during wedging.(I do not which clay to remove air bubbles but to make the clay more consistent for throwing). I store this clay end on to keep the texture more consistent.
I’ve also found that you need very little water as a lubricant, just wet your hands with the slip generated while throwing. It does dry very quickly compared to most clays.
One word of warning though, if you use a mobile glaze it will be even more mobile with this porcelain!