Beanie Hedgehog
A unique large hedgehog sculpture
Beanie’s rotundness shows he’s ready for winter bedtime.
Settling down and getting himself comfortable I’m sure one last belly rub wouldn’t go amiss.
Size – Approx 28cm in height by 33cm in length.
Material – Stoneware clay and glaze. Stamped underneath with my logo.
Weight– Approx 8kg
Free UK delivery – Please allow 5 working days.
International delivery – will take longer but is tracked. Cost of international shipping will depend on your location, please email me if you’d like a quote.
VAT – Price includes VAT at 20% in applicable countries.
How he was made
Mud, glorious mud! well, professional-grade stoneware clay from the UK to be precise.
Out of the bag the clay needs, “wedging,” to remove any air trapped that can later cause problems during firing. Wedging is physical and theraputic!
This boy was built using the ancient coiling technique which involves rolling coils and building the shape up in layers to create a hollow form (solid structures are more likely to blow up during firing as any moisture left tries to escape.) It’s a slow process -you can’t rush the build as the form may just collapse under its own weight.
After allowing him to dry a little I was able to shape and sculpt him to bring out his character.
Next was the bisque firing – a progressive heating programme to reach 1000°C.
Once cooled (48 hours later) I was able to hand paint three layers of white glaze to his face and tummy. I used a darker stain on the “spikes” to bring out the texture, before adding two layers of white glaze on top.
Next was the glaze firing – this time the temperature reaches 1245°C, this is where the alchemy and magic happens and gives the surface the final appearance.
