Slip Casting
Most moulds can have a reservoir built onto the filling hole to automatically feed more slip as the level drops. After this the surplus slip is tipped out and the moulds are allowed to drain while the clay body dries. This could take anything from an hour or so to a couple of days depending on the size and thickness of the object being cast. The natural shrinkage that occurs during drying will detach the body from the mould so that when the parts are separated the vase can be extracted without difficulty.
Simple shapes can be made in one piece. Making such pieces require skilled effort but are simple operation. For complicated shapes, the original model will have to be cut up and the finished object made in a number of parts. It is at this stage, when the clay is basically dry but still in what we call a green state, that the parts are reassembled. In the case of a simple vase it may just be a simple case of dabbing a little of the original slip onto the ends of the handles and sticking them carefully in place. The fact that the mould was in two parts inevitably means that the slip will seep a little into the join. This leaves a small ridge around the finished. This seam needs to be scraped down and cleaned up, a delicate and skilled job.
To be contd…
