What are ceramics?
While ceramics is best known as a solid material, it takes on a slightly different meaning by definition. Ceramics is the creation of functional or beautiful forms by manipulating clay minerals into solid forms through the use of various heating processes. At its core, ceramics is a medium of art that relies heavily on the use of clay.
But before anyone can dive straight into the creation process, you first have to understand the types of clay, its properties, and basic forming techniques. This isn’t a simple game of play-doh!
The process of making ceramics
Making ceramics may look like a simple task—merely shaping different clays into various shapes. But what most people don’t know is that there’s actually a lot that goes behind the entire process. Here are the steps you’ll have to go through.
Step 1: Clay preparation
Just like in any art medium, it’s important to prepare your materials. Find the right clay according to the plasticity and size you’re looking for. Most ceramic artists choose to source for clay bodies that are readily available in the market instead of looking for overseas suppliers as the shipping cost may be expensive, due to the weight of clay.
Step 2: Wedging
Before proceeding to form your clay, never skip the wedging process. This involves mixing and pressing the clay by hand on a table to remove any air bubbles and homogenise the clay thoroughly. If there are still air bubbles in your clay during the firing process, it may result in explosions in the kiln and potentially ruin your artwork.
Step 3: Forming
Now that there are no signs of air bubbles in your clay, you can now move on to the fun part: forming. Depending on the end product you desire, different materials and minerals can be mixed together with your clay to achieve certain plasticity or look. Different methods of forming can also be used such as moulding, pinching, coiling, and the most common one: slab and wheel.
Step 4: Drying
During the forming process, the materials used can cause shrinkage and distortion of the final outcome. After forming, ensure that your final pieces are stored in a damp room and wrapped in soft sheets of plastic during the drying process. When your pieces dry, you may want to alter its appearance and make a few changes to the shape. The plastic wrap allows the clay to still be workable even after a few days of drying.
Step 5: Glazing
Once you are satisfied with the final result of your ceramics after the drying process, it’s time to glaze them. Glazing is important as it can enhance the overall aesthetic of a clay piece and increase its functionality as well. Typically, the glaze mixture will be applied onto the ceramic with a brush sponge, or spray before they are placed on glaze racks in preparation for firing.
Step 6: Firing
Onto the final step: firing. Depending on their material, the ceramics will pass through a controlled heating process, which will allow the clay and glaze to “mature” and turn the raw clay into rock-hard ceramics.
Appreciating the art of ceramics
In recent years, there have been more people taking an interest in ceramics and pottery in general. For those looking to buy curated ceramic pieces for their home, they find that these handcrafted pieces add a certain depth to the interior of their homes and make for unique home decor pieces.
On the other hand, there are also those who wish to take up pottery classes due to the therapeutic nature of this medium. Regardless of how you choose to engage with ceramics, let’s remember to always appreciate art behind this craft each time we come across it.
Ceramic Company |
Adrienne Ceramics |
| Speciality | Jeanette Adrienne Wee began her journey with ceramics while studying in Japan in 2010, and later did a formal residency in Seto under sensei Kato Hiroshige in 2017. She works broadly with functional ware as well as sculptural works, with the ideas centred around nature, her experiences, and the places she’s been to.
The main characteristics of her works include rich textures, a mix of different clays, her own glazes, and using a one-handed technique to throw pots. Now she works at Temasek Potters under master potter Iskandar Jalil to further develop her work as an artist. |
| Website | http://adrienneceramics.com/ |
| Address | 75 Jalan Kelabu Asap |
| Telephone | N/A |
| Operating Hours | By appointment only |
Ceramic Company |
Malford Ceramics |
| Speciality | With more than 20 years in this industry, Malford Ceramics have built strong relationships with top tile and vinyl flooring manufacturers around the world. This has resulted in them being able to be importers and distributors of a diverse range of very premium tiles, vinyl flooring, natural stone, engineered stone, and mosaics that boast impressive technical specifications.
Malford Ceramics Pte. Ltd. is also proud to be an effective and affordable tiling solution to architects, interior designers, contractors, and homeowners in Singapore. |
| Website | https://malford.com.sg/ |
| Address | 80 Genting Lane #01-01 Ruby Industrial Complex |
| Telephone | 6742 5756 |
| Operating Hours | Monday – Friday: 9:00am – 7:00pm |
Ceramic Company |
White Horse Ceramic |
| Speciality | White Horse designs, manufactures and distributes ceramic tiles of the highest quality inspired by European designs to meet the demands of the discerning customers. Through the years, they have developed more environmentally friendly technologies in their factories and introduced innovative, eco-friendly tile series developed from green materials that minimise their impact on the environment.
Some of their best-selling tiles come from Europe and South America including countries such as Spain, Italy and Brazil. |
| Website | http://www.whitehorse.com.sg/ |
| Address | 1 Sungei Kadut Way |
| Telephone | 6269 0555 |
| Operating Hours | Monday – Thursday: 8:30am 0- 6:00pm Friday: 8:30am – 5:30pm Saturday: 8:30am – 7:00pm Sunday: 10:00am – 7:00pm |
Ceramic Company |
Mud Rock Ceramics |
| Speciality |
Mud Rock is a ceramic studio based in Singapore founded by ceramics artists, Ng Seok Har and Michelle Lim, who have been practising ceramics professionally for over 14 years. With their own kilns, glaze laboratory and equipment, they are able to produce works, glaze formulas and even clay types for specific needs. Their current clientele comprises of restaurants, design companies, architecture firms, government bodies, corporate organizations, and the quirky individual. With over 14 years of experience in the ceramics industry locally and internationally, they also provide consultation on various ceramics projects as well. |
| Website | https://www.mudrockceramics.com/ |
| Address | 85 Maude Road |
| Telephone | 6291 1186 |
| Operating Hours | By appointment only |
Ceramic Company |
Ohleaf |
| Speciality |
Ohleaf was started by a group of passionate artists who had a knack for little handcrafted products, gaining inspiration from different lifestyle shops and the nature that surrounds us. The team consists of a collaboration between product designers and young ceramic artists, which results in the combination of traditional ceramic making techniques with contemporary designs. All their pieces are handmade with high-quality ceramics and have been through a high-temperature firing process in the kiln, ensuring that no two products are the same. |
| Website | https://www.ohleafsg.com/ |
| Address | Blk 205 Bedok North Street 1, #01-387 (2nd floor) |
| Telephone | 9682 7197 |
| Operating Hours | By appointment only |
Ceramic Company |
Ummuramics |
| Speciality |
Ummuramics is based in Singapore and is a line of mainly functional ceramics-ware series that was unintentionally created by an art student back in 2015. As a ceramics student working her way through her conceptual sculptures, Ummu found herself dedicated to creating pieces that could hold her tea and food. Creating dinnerware became a self-indulgent habit filled up in between school projects.
In 2019, Ummu switched from being a full time to a part-time teacher to focus on her ceramics craft. Every piece of Ummuramics are handmade here in Singapore by Ummu herself from a balcony somewhere in Woodlands, sometimes with not much help from her two cats.
|
| Website | https://www.ummuramics.com/ |
| Operating Hours | By appointment only |
Ceramic Company |
Huls Gallery Singapore |
| Speciality | HULS Gallery Singapore was founded in September, 2017 as a global creative company with the mission to introduce the fine Japanese crafts called “Kogei” to the world. Based on the concept of “Roots & Touch”, HULS aims to enhance the rich culture of this cosmopolitan city by sharing this unique beauty of fine Japanese craftsmanship.
HULS Gallery represents a new style of craft gallery that serves professionals in the culinary and design industry as well as the general public. The gallery’s sophisticated interior design – elegantly modern, but infused with a deep sense of nature – reflects the best of both Singapore and Japan, making it the perfect showcase for these modern-yet-traditional works. |
| Website | https://huls.com.sg/ |
| Address | 24 Duxton Hill |
| Telephone | 6225 6331 |
| Operating Hours | By appointment only |
Ceramic Company |
Bowerbird Ceramics |
| Speciality | Bowerbird Ceramics are lovingly hand made and hand-painted by select Artisans in Vietnam making each piece truly unique and individual |
| Website | https://www.bowerbird.com.sg/ |
| Address |
Shiva Designs Bespoke, Level 4 Cluny Court
|
| Telephone | 9646 4175 |
| Operating Hours | Monday – Friday: 10:00am – 3:00pm |
Ceramic Company |
Taoz Ceramics |
| Speciality |
Taoz Ceramics Studio opened in 2013 and has been creating art and training artists since then. Their wish is to stimulate imagination and creativity in our studio by helping students create unique art pieces. Their studio serves as an educational branch and supporting institution for all. They also offer classes for students of all levels, in order to introduce newcomers to the art of ceramics and help experienced artists further their skills. |
| Website | https://www.taozceramics.com/ |
| Address |
277 Orchard Road, Orchard Gateway #03-03, |
| Telephone | 8342 2381 |
| Operating Hours | 11:00am – 8:00pm daily |
Ceramic Company |
Goodman Ceramic Studio |
| Speciality |
Goodman Ceramic Studio is run by a dedicated team of ceramicists and artists. Many programmes are jointly taught by our studio staff. This includes Tom Lim, a veteran in wheel throwing and Hazel Wong, a ceramic muralist. They are a multi-user studio, providing a space for students and artists alike. They have a range of studio access schemes available for you to practice your craft. They are also a stockist and sole agent for Laguna Clay, Axner.com and L & L Kilns and supply their own brand of glazes called GCS Glazes. |
| Website | https://www.goodmanceramicstudio.com/ |
| Address | 90 Goodman Road, #01-37 Block G |
| Telephone | 6346 6351 |
| Operating Hours | Tuesday – Sunday: 10:00am – 5:00pm |
Ceramic Company |
Ceramic House Singapore |
| Speciality | Ceramic House got its start back in the 80s, when Master Potters Lim Kim Hui and Shee Bee Heo started their apprenticeships in Ming Village and fell in love. Tucked away amidst the unlikely company of car and motorcycle manufacturers, Ceramic House is an oasis of calm – a place to laugh and joke around, and focus on crafting art with one’s own hands.
Teaching their students all they know, they have built a tight-knit community of pottery lovers and artists. Some of their students have gone on to establish their own studios in the burgeoning Singapore ceramic scene. |
| Website | https://www.ceramichousesg.com/ |
| Address |
Blk 9004 Tampines St.93 #02-102 |
| Telephone | 6784 0024 |
| Operating Hours | By appointment only |
Ceramic Company |
Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle |
| Speciality | Hidden in the west part of Singapore, surrounded by nature with widest varieties of pottery wares, is the largest pottery studios and oldest surviving dragon kiln. Owned by the family since 1965, they have been actively promoting awareness and a better understanding of pottery and the art of wood-firing, by conducting educational tours and pottery workshops for schools and the public since 2001.
Their workshops are conducted onsite at 85 Lorong Tawas where the dragon kiln is located – where you get the most authentic experience. |
| Website | https://thowkwang.com.sg/ |
| Address | No. 85 Lorong Tawas |
| Telephone | 6265 5808 |
| Operating Hours | 9:00am – 5:00pm daily |
Ceramic Company |
Saniton Ceramic |
| Speciality | Saniton Ceramic was formed in 1991 under a joint venture. The new partnership opened new possibilities to the ceramic and export markets for Zheng Keng and enabled the company to provide one-stop services for the design, manufacture and marketing of various vitreous China sanitary wares for our Clients, Architects and Consultants’ aesthetic needs.
In the company’s bid to be eco-friendly, these wares were manufactured under the Mandatory Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (MWELS), under the Singapore Government. |
| Website | http://www.saniton.com/ |
| Address | 33 Ubi Ave 3, Vertex #01-26 (Showroom) |
| Telephone | 6634 1806 / 6635 3472 |
| Operating Hours | Monday – Friday: 8:30am – 5:30pm Saturday: 8:30am – 1:00pm |
Ceramic Company |
Luzerne Singapore |
| Speciality | Drawing on over 70 years of tradition and experience, Luzerne, a Singapore-owned company is the first to set up manufacturing operations in Dehua, China in the 1990s.
A pioneer in creating fine china without animal bone ash, Luzerne designs and creates bespoke tableware of the highest quality for many of the world’s leading restaurants, hotels and chefs globally, and also in the skies with Singapore Airlines. |
| Website | https://luzerne.com/ |
| Address | 72 Bendemeer Road |
| Telephone | 6298 4567 |
| Operating Hours | Tuesday – Friday: 11:00am – 5:00pm |
Ceramic Company |
Boon’s Pottery |
| Speciality | Boon’s Pottery was founded by Master Potter Chuan Siang Boon in 1998 as he left his job and embarked on the journey to follow his dreams. Over the years, Boon’s Pottery has grown from a one-man team to a group of passionate ceramic artists and instructors, featuring both local masterpieces as well as masterpieces from foreign visiting potters.
Many of Boon’s masterpieces have been sold worldwide and some were chosen as state gifts for foreign officials. The team at Boon’s Pottery offers students exposure to different styles and techniques and is a good place to learn the art of pottery. |
| Website | https://www.boonspottery.com/ |
| Address | 91 Tanglin Rd, #B1-01/02 Tanglin Place |
| Telephone | 6836 3978 |
| Operating Hours | 11:00am – 6:00pm daily |
Most common types of clay used in ceramics
On the surface, ceramic pieces may look like they were made with the exact same materials. However, there are various different types of clay that ceramic artists use in their practice. The most common ones are stoneware, and earthenware, porcelain clays and fire clays.
Earthenware
Out of all the different classes of clay, earthenware clays are some of the most common types being used by ceramic artists and are also some of the oldest clays used by potters in the olden days. Typically, this material is orange, red, or even gray in colour in both its raw, moist state and after firing.
Earthenware is often used for sculpting and wheel throwing. While earthenware is used mostly decorative objects and pottery tableware, it can also be used to create an array of other objects such as flower pots and outdoor decorations due to its high plasticity. Furthermore, this highly porous clay contains mineral impurities such as iron, causing the clay to reach a completely solid-state between 950 to 11000 degrees celsius.
Stoneware
Unlike earthenware clays that take on a more terracotta colour, stoneware clays are often gray when moist. When fired, its colours can range from light gray, medium, and even a light brown—all of which are still relatively darker colours.
You’ll find that most items made of stoneware are often those found in the kitchen and are used in cooking, baking, serving dishes, as well as storing liquids. Compared to earthenware that is highly porous in nature, stoneware clays are quite the opposite and fire to their mature hardness between 1200 to 1300 degrees celsius.
Porcelain clays
Out of all the different classes of clay, porcelain probably has the most subtle and bright colours and is incredibly popular in the use for making dinnerware. However, unlike other clays, porcelain is the least plastic, which makes it quite hard to work with. In order to increase the material’s plasticity, it would have to be mixed with other minerals for better workability.
Just as the name of the material suggests, porcelain clays are often used to make porcelain vases, tableware, and other decorative objects that we are all familiar with.
Ball clays
With limited mineral impurities, ball clays are considered to be one of the most plastic clays in the market. However, one major disadvantage is that they cannot be used on its own and would need to be combined with other clays to reduce the excessive shrinkage during the firing process.
While stoneware, earthenware and porcelain clays are often used for decorative objects, ball clays are commonly used for toilet bowls, floor tiles as the material alone are rather fine and slippery for use.
Editor’s Note:
While every precaution has been made to ensure the accuracy and fairness of this listing, we acknowledge that they may be inaccuracies. Therefore, we urge you to contact the service provider above for the correct information and/or contact us with the correct information.
If you are a service provider and wish to be featured in this listing (MediaOne reviews are read by hundreds of thousands of Singaporeans), please contact us at enquiry@mm.com.sg. There is no charge! Please allow us up to 3 working days to review before adjusting the information or including your entry.
