Puffin Bird Sculpture
A unique sculpture of a puffin in a metallic glaze
Is there ANYTHING not to love about puffins? Arguably one of the most recognisable species of bird we see in the UK. These land-burrowing birds make my heart sing, and the excitement at spotting their return to Bempton Cliffs is a highlight of my year.
Size – Approx 32cm in height by 22cm in length.
Material – Stoneware clay and glaze. Stamped underneath with my logo.
Weight– Approx 5.5kg
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 they were 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 head study 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 them to dry a little I was able to shape and sculpt them to bring out their 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 metallic glaze to them.
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.
