Craftmanship
Our factory is not only one of the oldest earthenware factories in the Netherlands, we are also the only one in the Netherlands that still carries out every step of the production process in our own factory.
Locally produced is sustainable
We pour and bake the clay ourselves and paint everything in our own studio.
This reduces our transportation footprint substantially and therefore also our CO2 emissions.
With love and care
Before one of our bowls or vases finds its place on your table, it has already been passed through many loving and caring hands. It's been taken out of a mould, carefully polished and blown clean, decorated with great care, glazed and put in the oven at least three times and taken out again.
Process
Mould making
Each piece of earthenware starts (after the design) by making a basic mould. We make this mould from plaster. We then make a so called mother (master) mould from this mould.
During use a mould will wear out, and therefore we can use it only about 40-60 times. That’s why we make several plaster work moulds from this master mold. After that, we carefully store the mother mould in our mould archive, for future use.
Each piece of earthenware starts (after the design) by making a basic mould. We make this mould from plaster. We then make a so called mother (master) mould from this mould.
During use a mould will wear out, and therefore we can use it only about 40-60 times. That’s why we make several plaster work moulds from this master mold. After that, we carefully store the mother mould in our mould archive, for future use.
Casting or pressing the clay
We use the casting method for complex pottery shapes, such as our miniatures, teapots or vases.
This is how it works: we pour liquid clay into the work moulds and let it stand for about 30-40 minutes, so that the layer of clay that comes into contact with the plaster mold dries to 'shard thickness'. The longer we leave the clay in the mould, the thicker the layer of dried clay will get. Then we empty the mould.
What remains in the mould is a dried hollow shape in clay. With a simpler and flatter shape, such as a plate, we press or turn pieces of clay into the correct shape on a press or lathe and let them dry for a while
We use the casting method for complex pottery shapes, such as our miniatures, teapots or vases.
This is how it works: we pour liquid clay into the work moulds and let it stand for about 30-40 minutes, so that the layer of clay that comes into contact with the plaster mold dries to 'shard thickness'. The longer we leave the clay in the mould, the thicker the layer of dried clay will get. Then we empty the mould.
What remains in the mould is a dried hollow shape in clay. With a simpler and flatter shape, such as a plate, we press or turn pieces of clay into the correct shape on a press or lathe and let them dry for a while
Drying
When the cast, turned or pressed shapes have dried sufficiently, we carefully remove them from the mould.
When the cast, turned or pressed shapes have dried sufficiently, we carefully remove them from the mould.
Finish
Before the clayware can go into the oven, we first have to finish them by hand. This requires skilled hands and an eye for detail. We carefully scrape off the casting seams with a knife and trim the edges.
Every piece is then sponged even further smooth and/or blown clean. Then it goes into the oven.
Before the clayware can go into the oven, we first have to finish them by hand. This requires skilled hands and an eye for detail. We carefully scrape off the casting seams with a knife and trim the edges.
Every piece is then sponged even further smooth and/or blown clean. Then it goes into the oven.
First time in the firing oven
The clay is now fired for the first time. This happens for about eight hours at about 1100 degrees Celsius. A constant temperature is important for good quality and this process is closely monitored by us.
The baked clay that comes out of the oven is called bisque.
The clay is now fired for the first time. This happens for about eight hours at about 1100 degrees Celsius. A constant temperature is important for good quality and this process is closely monitored by us.
The baked clay that comes out of the oven is called bisque.
Painting and decorating
When a piece has been turned into 'bisque ware', it is ready to be painted or decorated. We do this in our own studio. We are the only pottery factory in the Netherlands where all decoration techniques are carried out in our own workshop.
Some pieces are painted completely by hand, others are decorated with digitally produced transfers, or we combine these techniques.
When a piece has been turned into 'bisque ware', it is ready to be painted or decorated. We do this in our own studio. We are the only pottery factory in the Netherlands where all decoration techniques are carried out in our own workshop.
Some pieces are painted completely by hand, others are decorated with digitally produced transfers, or we combine these techniques.
Second firing and glazing
After decorating, the pottery goes back into the oven for another eight hours.
Each piece is then given a neutral or colored transparent cover: the glaze. Even solid colored, undecorated pottery is finished in this way.
We compose these glazes ourselves in our own laboratory. For this we use different techniques; the pottery is sprayed (by hand or machine) or dipped.
After decorating, the pottery goes back into the oven for another eight hours.
Each piece is then given a neutral or colored transparent cover: the glaze. Even solid colored, undecorated pottery is finished in this way.
We compose these glazes ourselves in our own laboratory. For this we use different techniques; the pottery is sprayed (by hand or machine) or dipped.
Last firing and final check
When the last coating of glaze has been applied, the pottery goes into the oven for the last time and is fired for another eight hours. Then we check each piece by hand for deviations or imperfections.
If a cup, plate or miniature has been found to be absolutely perfect, it may carry the Royal Goedewaagen mark.
When the last coating of glaze has been applied, the pottery goes into the oven for the last time and is fired for another eight hours. Then we check each piece by hand for deviations or imperfections.
If a cup, plate or miniature has been found to be absolutely perfect, it may carry the Royal Goedewaagen mark.
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