You will need: For the bisque-fired press moulds
■ A bowl mould of the type made in issue 63, ‘Making a hump and press mould’
■ Red earthenware clay
■ Rolling pin, plastic sheet, 5mm and 10mm thick roller guides
■ Ribs
■ White slip (optional)
■ Transparent or white glaze
■ Brushes for glaze application
1 Prepare a block of clay large enough to fill your mould once rolled out. We can’t be specific about amounts because of the size of individual moulds.
Working on the sheet of plastic, reduce the bulk of the clay by beating it with the side of your rolling pin. Work in measured, even strokes from one side of the clay to the other, to avoid making deep grooves in the surface.
Roll out the clay between the 5mm thick roller guides. You will find that periodically turning the slab will make rolling much easier and give you more control to achieve the approximate shape you require – round, in this case.
Once rolled out, smooth over