Where our clay comes from
Every Fernhill vase starts as one of two clays: a smooth grey stoneware and a warmer buff body with a little grog in it. We blend them for the tall pieces, because the grog helps a thin wall stand up while it dries.
Clay arrives in 12.5 kg bags. Before it goes near the wheel it is wedged by hand to push out the air, which is the least glamorous and most important ten minutes of any piece.
Why it matters
The clay decides how a glaze looks. The same glaze is creamy on the buff body and cooler on the grey, which is why two vases from one batch can look like cousins rather than twins.