Kategorie: Porcelain

Porcelain was perfected in China over two thousand years ago, but it’s actually the "youngest" member of the ceramics family. Compared to ancient pottery, it’s a newcomer—and like many youngest children, it is notoriously moody and difficult to handle.

I was so desperate to get my hands on it at first, but my first attempt was a complete failure. I just didn't "get" it. It’s a material that demands everything from you—it dries out your hands, and the second I forget to "give it a drink" of water, it starts to crack. It’s heartbreakingly fragile, too; I’ve had so many pieces snap at the very last minute just as I was trying to polish them.

But after that rough start, I went back for a second try, and something shifted. It’s a high-maintenance relationship that requires an intense fire—over at least 1250°C—to work. But when it comes out of the kiln, those thin walls are stronger than any other clay, and they let the light pass through with a glow that feels like magic. We still "fight" once in a while, but I think I’m gradually learning how to listen to it. It feels like the porcelain is finally helping me tell my stories.