"Turning the clay on a wheel not only connects the maker and material like no other method, it is also the most dynamic and versatile way of making a pot. After countless centuries of pottery making it still proves to be the best way."
-James West, Master Potter
There are many methods for manufacturing ceramics these days, yet many methods and materials have changed very little over the centuries. At Hanselmann Pottery, we are connecting the pottery to a legacy of craftsmanship, tradition, design and an awareness of what it means to be a pottery in the 21st century USA. Technically speaking , the pieces are hand-thrown on a wheel. Throwing is still one of the most dynamic, spontaneous and creative ways to capture the form. It is, however, not the fastest. It takes several years of intense practice to become proficient on the wheel, and the craft requires a developed sense of space, form and scale. We fire our work twice, first from delicate greenware to a bisque of about 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. Then we wax & glaze the pieces until we have accumulated enough glaze-ware to fill our large gas-fired kiln. The potters spend a day carefully loading the work. It is then carefully fired to cone 10 or 2350 degrees Fahrenheit. Our palette of glaze has been adjusted and tested for years, and we continue to test and innovate in order to create freshness and sustainability of the collection for years to come. The decision to make white speckled pottery is informed by our customers. The simple and minimal design highlights food, home decor and fits in both modern and rustic home settings.