Poterie Graessel come from a long line of professional potters going back six generations, producing handmade stoneware.
All their pottery is guaranteed as being hand made, using traditional methods, in their own workshops.
Most of their work is produced on a wheel.The potter prepares a ball of clay which is centered on the wheel.He opens out the ball of clay with his thumbs and pulls the clay upwards into a cylinder and then forms the shape he requires.He separates the pot from the wheel using an iron wire.
The turned pots are then left to dry until they are leather hard.If necessary the pots are now finished off,handles added for example on jugs and cups.
Using a pointed,wooden,tool,the pots are then engraved with designs such as flowers, various animals (including mammals, birds, insects fish,...), of people (wearing traditional Alsacien dress, clowns,...), or other modern and abstract motifs. The pieces are then left to dry for several days before they undergo a first firing at 980°C.
The engraved designs are then painting, using a brush and a base oxyde colour. This work is very meticulous and time consuming.
Next the pieces are enamelled with a transparent glaze and fired for a second time at 1280°C.
The Graessels design many unique pieces and their designs are very varied. The potter is in constant touch with his work and no flaws are allowed in it. Any work containing a fault is always destroyed.
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