How to care for your piece
The Process
Each piece is hand-made by rolling, coiling, squeezing, and shaping very small pieces of clay. Each individual piece is then added to the overall body whilst wet to make a whole piece.
It may take a week or up to a couple of weeks to make a larger form. The piece will take up to a month or longer to dry and then fired up to 3 times.
As it does take a long time to make and craft these pieces, I have designed them in a way they can be handled, and although they are very delicate they are also very durable solid forms.
Cleaning the Ceramic
If the ceramic is under a glass cloche or in a wooden display case, it will be attached firmly to the base of the display unit. These pieces are not designed to be cleaned and will not need to be cleaned if kept under their cloche or display case. The outside glass or acrylic cover can be wiped clean with a micro-fibre cloth.
If your piece does not have a display case or cloche they can be washed gently. Each ceramic will have an area near the bottom where no intricate work is placed, this is the best place to hold the piece to pick it up and move it.
To clean the ceramic, lower it into a large sink (or something larger than the size of the ceramic). I suggest placing the artwork onto a rubber mat, or something that will hold the ceramic in place. I suggest using a pre-made mixture of dishwashing soap and warm water to spray onto the ceramic, this will disolve any build up of dirt and dust.
When cleaning, do not use any hard instruments or brushes to get rid of the build up as this may damage the ceramic. When removing from the sink, take care not to rub or knock the piece when moving it. Place the ceramic on a towel and let it air dry.
If your piece is attached to wood, do not use this method to clean.
Packaging and Moving
Please take due care while packaging and moving your piece.
Do not wrap the ceramic in any plastic, bubble wrap, foam or cardboard, doing this will result in breakages. I suggest instead using tissue paper to support the sides of the piece.
Each ceramic will be supplied with a box, please use this to transport the piece. Without using the custom made box, this may result in breakages. Always carry your piece flat and place on a flat surface to travel (the boot or a flat area of your car). If the piece is on an angle or an unsteady surface, there is a high chance it will be damaged.
When lifting the piece from the carry box, lift from the base where there is no fragile or small bits. Each box has its own unique instructions for unpacking, I recommend following these to ensure your piece does not break.