| 1. The original design is
sculpted in wet clay. |
|
| 2. Wet plaster is poured
over the original to make a plaster cast. This destroys the original
in the process. |
 |
| 3. After the mold has dried
(one to two weeks depending on humidity) it is used to make additional
tiles. The wet clay is pressed into the plaster mold. |
 |
| 4. After drying (another one
to two weeks) the tile is trimmed and bisque fired to a temperature
of 2000F. |
|
| 5. Any decoration (underglaze)
is applied to the bisque tile. |
|
| 6. The
decorated tile is dipped in glaze (usually clear). |
|
| 7. The tile is fired a second
time. For earthenware clays, the temperature is 1940F. |
|
| 8. Gold, platinum, and lusters
(overglazes) are applied on top of the glaze and the piece is
fired a third time to a low temperature to fuse the color to
the glaze. |
|
| 9. The finishing steps include
adding cork to the backs of hotplates and coasters, combining
tiles with mirrored glass on wood backings for mirrors, and choosing
a complementary color scheme for the painted wood backings for
clocks. |
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