Tired of your old body? Try a new one! KBJ Stoneware, a new clay body from Valentine is more than worth a try. A few weeks ago I received a bag when I picked up my order of raw materials from my supplier Keramikos. I immediately wanted to sink my teeth into it ….. well, in a matter of speaking.
KBJ stands for Keith Brymer Jones, yes, the one from the Great Pottery Throw Down. Valentine Clays is a renowned clay producer from Stoke-On-Trent, at the heart of the English ceramics history.
Together they have developed a new “off white stoneware body” for throwing and hand forming. A clay mixed with Keith’s tears. A silky soft clay that melts under your hands, but can be fired from 1120 to 1280 C.
Do you ever have the feeling you are ready for something new? Does your old body no longer feel like it used to? Then try a new one!
Every clay has its peculiarities
Clay is a natural raw material, which you can find all over the world. But not every clay is the same. Like humans, they all have their idiosyncrasies or rather their own character. As a potter, you have to learn to deal with that, just like with people.
But unlike humans, you can bend clay to your will. Boxed clay is assembled from different kind of clays and raw materials. This is called a “clay body”. It is a compound with a character which you can learn to get along or fall in love with.
Learn to discover new clays
Thousands of years ago, potters mixed their clay with ground (mammoth) bone, shards (chamotte) or sand. This practice is unchanged, but now many potters outsource this to their clay manufacturers, such as Valentine.
Many types of clays are produced, from earthenware, stoneware to porcelain. But also from white, red to black firing clay (and all the colors in between). Plastic for easy throwing or clay that is only suitable for coarse work such as bricks and roof tiles.
So I am always looking for a clay that fits my production and aesthetic considerations. Because tastes change and techniques evolves. To keep working with the right kind of clay I always have to discover new ones, to play with … and test.
KJB clay testing is fun
You get to know your clay by working with it but also by testing. I say this much to often, but it’s still true: to measure is to know. Luckily you don’t have to do everything yourself. From Keramikos I got a link to the technical data sheet of KBJ Stoneware on the site of Valentine Clays.
This factsheet gives many insights to its properties. The firing range, color, shrinkage and chemical composition. For absorption, I had to mail Valentine. According to Mark, the technical manager, the absorption will be almost zero if I fire this clay at the top temperature of 1280 C (Cone 10). Excellent!
In short, a clay I want to get to know even better. And there’s nothing like rolling up your sleeves and dig in. Exciting!
KBJ Stoneware clay is…
What have I learned so far about this clay? It’s “so smooooooth”, to use a technical term 🙂
It is very plastic and throws great on the potters wheel. I still have to determine shrinkage and absorption for myself. I can’t see the result until I’ve fired…. So I’m going to have to wait a little longer.
It is always good to discover something new, including a new body. I’m not in full courtship with KBJ Stoneware yet, but we’re dating!
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