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Using the same basic techniques as potters, they work at astonishing speed, using novel tools and hybrid workflows.
![]() Factory workers using the same techniques as potters |
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https://www.instagram.com/reel/DU8FQ19lAD5
Factory workers slip-cast, glaze, decorate and fire mugs |
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https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVPM4MQCH-Y
Factory workers underglazing and glazing bone dry plates The special dipping frame, application of colour as an underglaze, slurry rheology and very fast dip are the keys to making this possible. |
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https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVNHOuiDObu
Factory workers making cuerda seca terracotta tile |
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https://www.instagram.com/reel/DauX6nxsBXJ
Factory worker skillfully applies black band on rims of mugs |
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https://www.instagram.com/reel/DaB9ut2SrA7
Skilled factory worker applies full side decal to coffee cups |
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https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dab4fz9SWhz
Skilled factory worker applies slip-cast handles to leather hard mugs |
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https://www.instagram.com/reel/DaDF8mrEQEj
Banding and striping using sponge brushes by skilled factory workers |
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https://www.instagram.com/reel/DannZTAPWte
Factory worker fountain and dip glazing bowls. Fountain-glazing the insides of bowls while glazing the rim also. Dip-glazing the outsides in a different color. |
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https://www.instagram.com/reel/Db6gU0fCuMZ
Factory worker glazing bone-dry plates by spinning, sponging and dipping The plates appear to be heated and the glaze is likely high-specific gravity because it dries incredibly fast. |
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https://www.facebook.com/share/r/184hsfnGRs
Factory worker glazing a bisque fired mug with a single point tool |
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https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1FfzUaLsev
Factory worker dip-glazing using a special tool It is a small bowl with an intricate wax resistant design. The dipping tongue doubles as the holder for drying. |
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https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZUv9ZikQ-7
Factory worker finishing bone dry mugs She uses a spinning sponge, fountain glazer and dip glazes the lip using a modified sieve |
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https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1FFFTP31rW
Factory worker using wire dipping tongs to apply very thin glaze on bisque ware. The factory slurry is very watery and requires continuous stirring. |
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https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1DjFuEd4Bj
A factory worker dip-glazes a large platter. A clever tong tool that does not disturb any surfaces. |
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https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdOnoqZR633
Factory worker rapidly applying decals |
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https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdYutNSTb4W
Factory workers using novel handle preparation cutters in factory Custom plaster holders and specialized blade cutters shear slip-cast handles to exact vessel contours instantly, bypassing hand-trimming. |
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https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdSzyTBvFRO
Factory worker quickly applying full decal to outside of mug |
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https://www.facebook.com/reel/933851113104115
Factory worker thick layer glazing a bowl at a factory Note the careful extraction so the gelled thixotropic glaze stays in place. |
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https://www.facebook.com/reel/2382825802126730
Factory worker fountain/rim glazing mugs at a factory |
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https://www.facebook.com/reel/1943286709697381
Factory worker using heavy stationary-template jigger machine makes each cup in seconds. He turns a large pile of super soft clay into jiggered cups, one after another. His jigger wheel has a plaster head. Molds fit perfectly. |
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https://www.facebook.com/reel/1084612477351344
Factory worker dip-glazes mugs A skilled worker uses a custom dipping tong to thick-layer the outsides and thin-layer the insides. Notice how thixotropic the glaze is. |
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https://www.facebook.com/reel/1088672237167140
Factory worker using a stationary-template jigger machine makes each bowl in seconds. He turns a large pile of super soft clay into jiggered bowls, one after another. Notice how he deliberately puts in too much clay but catches the excess efficiently for the next piece. Also notice the inner, likely 3d printed liner, on the plaster wheel head, enabling them to precisely fit it to the molds. |
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https://www.facebook.com/reel/1101766352415440
Factory worker double-layer glazes outside of vase She does the second dip immediately after the first one. A small board is attached to the rim to prevent the outer darker glaze from going inside, she knocks it off as she quickly carries the flared-footed vase to the second drum of white glaze. |
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https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdYHCPgyt6z
Factory worker and machine dip-glazing mugs |
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https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ddd9ih8Fd2w
Factory worker dip-glazes a plate with bare hands The rim holding spot has been preglazed. |
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https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dbm8lasyodt
Factory worker silk screens design on to mug by ink scraping The video shows every process of glazing the mugs, but this is the most interesting. It isn't supposed to work: They drape the screen around the piece and scrape the ink through using a rubber scraper. |
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https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdoaiPoyqCi
Factory workers making bowls (full process) They round the flat jiggered rim on a rotating sponge machine, then sponge the whole bowl, fountain glaze the insides carefully by hand, and then machine dip the outsides. |
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https://www.facebook.com/reel/1555758769633769
A factory worker dip-glazes translucent porcelain plates with her bare hands. Very fast! She works at incredible speed, glazing one every two seconds. Without using dipping tongs. She applies a very thin layer of transparent glaze. While it appears very watery (low viscosity), it is likely high-solids and deflocculated to achieve extreme thixotropic behavior (fluid when moving, gelled when still). The speed of the dip, and fluid sweep while below the surface, ensure that all parts of the plate spend the same fraction of a second submerged, ensuring a uniform layer. Notice also that the plates on the split foam belt dry enough to stack within 10-15 seconds. What about the spot on the rim where she is holding it? Upon pulling the plate out, the glaze is still fluid enough to pool over it as a product of the way she releases it. Notice also that she picks them up with a glove, which means they may be hot (to speed drying). Finally, additions of surfactants and defoamers break the surface tension, enabling air bubbles to pop and smooth over quickly before the glaze dries. One final detail deserves repeating: This is translucent porcelain, maybe even bone china. That means the ware has been bisqued to zero porosity. Wow! |
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https://www.facebook.com/reel/1369572738697142
Factory worker dip-glazes the outside of a teapot |
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https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ddxr3N5zxHB
Factory worker uses plaster mold as cutting guide for leather hard handles This enables casting the mug with a completely smooth inner surface (there is no pothole at the handle join). |
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https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dd1JAjelE-P
Factory workers make shiny black bowls One applies black underglaze using a sponge brush and the other quickly dips it in clear glaze. |
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https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdsbyFaS6C2
Factory worker uses an ingenious method to attach a mug handle in the right spot and alignment |
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https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dc56ptkisth
Factory worker uses a specially cut sponge to apply two color banding at once. She also has a special two section underglaze bowl to dip it in. |
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https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dd4Rky9JlS3
Factory workers in Argentina use a mechanical dipping machine for plates Notice they are dipping into a thixotropic glaze that goes on evenly even though parts of the plate are immersed much longer. |
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https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dd8r7-QIs3P
Factory worker dips a bowl in thixotropic glaze The glaze is thixotropic enough that the immersed bowl free floats for a moment of the process. The process applies a thicker outside layer. |
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https://www.instagram.com/reel/DeCA8J2D9kY
Factory worker underglaze and glaze bone dry bowls Note the quick dip into a likely high specific gravity yet very fluid glaze. And the two speed conveyor that deglazes the foot ring. |
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| By Tony Hansen Follow me on ![]() | ![]() |
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