Process

The parts for a jugbird are thrown with a smooth, forgiving red earthenware clay. When they are slightly firm Gillian assembles the two or more sections into the familiar jugbird. She paints some areas with brightly stained slips (liquid clay) and possibly a little underglaze and when the piece is dry the rest is coated with terra sigillata. After the bisque firing the slipped areas are glazed with a durable, craze-resistant, non-toxic clear glaze and the work is fired slowly to cone 04, with a good soak at the end.

Remembering the Somerset workshop in 1984 and her previous years of producing reduction-fired stoneware, Gillian has recently returned to using stoneware clay sometimes and has the pieces fired in a salt or soda kiln.