Blue Spotted Porcelain Teacup

These beautiful teacups were thrown by Chicago potter, Chris Chaney. Each product may vary in size/shape/color due to the fact that these are hand-made.

Each individual teacup begins its life as a humble lump of clay. Once the clay has been centered on the potter's wheel, a small cup is shaped by hand on the very top of the mound, cut off, and set aside to dry. This technique of throwing off the hump is a traditional forming method used to create small works in multiple -- oftentimes using very delicate clay bodies such as porcelain. Once the thrown piece has dried to a leather hard consistency, the cup is placed upside down on the wheel head so excess clay can be removed leaving a trimmed foot ring. The piece then makes its way into a kiln for the first of two firings. The kiln is heated to approximately 1900 °F and allowed to cool, after which the teacup emerges as bisque ware. A piece in this bisque stage is no longer raw clay and much stronger than it was prior to initial firing. The piece is then dipped into a glaze, which is a mixture of different powdered clays, fluxes or melters, and colorants (such as iron oxide) suspended in water and mixed to a heavy cream consistency. Once the liquid glaze has dried, the piece is loaded into the kiln once more for the final firing. At this point the kiln is heated to approximately 2300 °F which allows the glaze materials to melt, transforming it into a glass and completely sealing the surface. After cooling for about 2 days, the kiln is opened and pieces removed. The piece goes through a final cleaning and inspection and is then ready for tea!