Surrounded by three mountains, the factory where our ceramic products are produced is located in Cháozhou, a charming city in the eastern part of Guangdong Province, China, which is also known as the ’Ceramic Capital of China’. The factory manufactures different items from hardened clay – anything from tableware and mugs, to sculptural vases and lamp bases. Despite the fast-changing world, the 60 employees at this factory remain loyal to the true spirit of craftsmanship at every stage of production.
The raw materials used for ferm LIVINGs ceramics are all carefully sourced and quality checked to ensure that every product is of the utmost quality. The clay used has been vacuumed and de-aired to suck out any air pockets introduced by the clay-making process. Built to last a lifetime, the materials used are extremely durable.
The ceramic-making process is slow and complex, and is handled by several different people, each an expert in their profession. Pottery with delicate or detailed silhouettes often requires a combination of traditional and modern tools, as well as production techniques such as slip casting, hand painting, sponging, trimming, dipping and glazing. The ceramic object is often formed by slip casting, where perfectly mixed clay is poured into a parted mould to harden and dry. The plaster mould expedites the drying process, as it soaks up some of the excess water from the clay. Separating the clay from the plaster mould at the perfect time is a skill in itself – the clay must be almost completely hardened, yet still a bit moist, for the potter to be ble to trim the item.
From this point, a potter begins trimming the piece by hand using a hand-thrown pottery wheel and special metal tools featuring angled blades and wire loops to smooth the roughness and rims, while continuously dabbing the piece with a damp sponge to clean the object. It takes a lot of practice to recognise the perfect consistency for trimming pottery, and how much to take off without damaging the surface. Before being passed to a colleague, the item is examined for its evenness and aesthetic beauty. The item is now ready for its first firing in a special kiln running at a very high temperature for up to 7-8 hours. If glazing is required, this is often done by hand by a colleague with special technical glazing skills to ensure a complete coating. After glazing, the item needs a second firing for up to 12 hours to ensure the ceramic has the right shape and longevity. Finally, every single product is carefully inspected before being packaged and ready for sale.
SHELL POT
Filled with your favourite flowers or by its own, this pot shaped like a nautilus shell merges natural shapes with contemporary design. With a matte outside and glazed inside, it adds delicate detail to any room, simple and sculptural all at once.
TUCK POTS
To achieve the perfect balance between a fluid and a powerful expression, our designers sculpted the first Tuck Pot by hand, thus creating a Pot marked by our creative instincts. Combining its vibrant form with a high-gloss glaze, this design will answer any prayer for a remarkable piece, created in the nexus of art and handicraft. Use the pot with a large plant or by its own.