Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This week, I'm taking you through the entire process of creating a batch of six handmade urns, store jars, lidded forms, pieces that are intended for a use that can be difficult to approach and discuss, yet they're filled with meaning beyond what a teapot or mug can offer and always feel quite emotional when creating these as commissions as of course they're objects some people in very difficult situations.
This is a technical dive into my approach to creating these and I discuss what my aims are and which shapes I end up preferring. Beyond the throwing and trimming of these relatively simple shapes, I discuss my technique for applying clean layers of glaze on these angular forms and thereafter, once reduction fired to cone ten, (1290ºC), in my Rohde KG-340 gas kiln, I show you how I tidy up intentionally large lids, so they slot perfectly into the bodies of the jars with a silky smoothness.
There's a lot of steps in the journey these pieces take from beginning to end and I'm immensely proud of these six pots. Let me know if you have any further questions about the process and thanks so much for taking your precious time to watch, especially if you made it to the end.
How to cone clay: youtu.be/69dMLpXosSk
The spinner tools I use: youtu.be/fBK31iuMOHw
📖 • ORDER MY BOOK: geni.us/bymyhands
🏺 • You may also be interested in my 'A Beginner's Guide' series, which you can find here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2WJhtTF0eGhQwf8g2LHcom_KrvJpH_JT
Timecodes:
0:00 - Introduction & throwing the lid & body
1:34 - Assessing yesterday's thrown work
3:06 - Trimming the urns
16:45 - Preparing the urns for a biscuit firing to 1000ºC
18:10 - Waxing the lids, bases & lips
20:06 - Glazing the urns
24:42 - Cleaning up the glazed surfaces
27:43 - Wadding the lids atop the bodies
29:03 - Loading the gas kiln & reduction firing it to cone ten, 1290ºC
30:35 - Unpacking the kiln
30:48 - Scraping clean their bases & grinding the lids
35:08 - The finished urns
•
Find out much more via the link below!
https://linktr.ee/floriangadsby
•
Get in touch here: floriangadsby.com/contact
Sign up to my newsletter here: floriangadsby.com/newsletter
This week, I'm taking you through the entire process of creating a batch of six handmade urns, store jars, lidded forms, pieces that are intended for a use that can be difficult to approach and discuss, yet they're filled with meaning beyond what a teapot or mug can offer and always feel quite emotional when creating these as commissions as of course they're objects some people in very difficult situations.
This is a technical dive into my approach to creating these and I discuss what my aims are and which shapes I end up preferring. Beyond the throwing and trimming of these relatively simple shapes, I discuss my technique for applying clean layers of glaze on these angular forms and thereafter, once reduction fired to cone ten, (1290ºC), in my Rohde KG-340 gas kiln, I show you how I tidy up intentionally large lids, so they slot perfectly into the bodies of the jars with a silky smoothness.
There's a lot of steps in the journey these pieces take from beginning to end and I'm immensely proud of these six pots. Let me know if you have any further questions about the process and thanks so much for taking your precious time to watch, especially if you made it to the end.
How to cone clay: youtu.be/69dMLpXosSk
The spinner tools I use: youtu.be/fBK31iuMOHw
📖 • ORDER MY BOOK: geni.us/bymyhands
🏺 • You may also be interested in my 'A Beginner's Guide' series, which you can find here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2WJhtTF0eGhQwf8g2LHcom_KrvJpH_JT
Timecodes:
0:00 - Introduction & throwing the lid & body
1:34 - Assessing yesterday's thrown work
3:06 - Trimming the urns
16:45 - Preparing the urns for a biscuit firing to 1000ºC
18:10 - Waxing the lids, bases & lips
20:06 - Glazing the urns
24:42 - Cleaning up the glazed surfaces
27:43 - Wadding the lids atop the bodies
29:03 - Loading the gas kiln & reduction firing it to cone ten, 1290ºC
30:35 - Unpacking the kiln
30:48 - Scraping clean their bases & grinding the lids
35:08 - The finished urns
•
Find out much more via the link below!
https://linktr.ee/floriangadsby
•
Get in touch here: floriangadsby.com/contact
Sign up to my newsletter here: floriangadsby.com/newsletter
