Slip Casting

Design Resource

Ceramics of Khurja

The Craft of Clay

Slip Casting

In this step, the slip (clay mixed in water) is poured into the plaster moulds. The water in the slip is drawn out by the POP (as it absorbs water), leaving an inside layer of solid clay that acquires the shape of the mould. When this is thick enough, the excess slip is poured out from the mould. Nowadays, a lot of people use clay instead of slip to make simpler products like cups and mugs. This makes casting faster and less messy. The clay is ‘thrown’ in along the walls of the mould using a hand tool on a rotating wheel-head.

When the clay inside the mould is dry enough, it is removed by opening up parts of the mould that are held together with rubber bands. Handles of cups, animal shaped mugs, incense stick holders, flower shaped plates etc. are all cast in similar way. Mostly women take up the task of finishing (‘cleaning up’) the rough edges of these objects with a sponge soaked in water. These are then left to dry in the sun.

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Ceramics of Khurja