Finding Raw Clay for Pottery

Most of us probably don't think about how our ceramic plates, mugs, and bowls were made and less so where the clay came from. When I first started working with clay, I just took it at face value and never thought about where it came from.

That is until I read about American Indians and other cultures around the world who dug their clay from the ground and fired it over wood fires and in pits dug from the ground. Believe it or not, there are still individuals who go out and dig their own clay today.

So, it was so much fun to discover a place where I can collect raw clay.

Here it is! The brown streaks are dirt and the dark lines are probably roots.

Here's some of it dug up.

And here's a small ball of clay that I wedged (kneaded) and patted into a slab.

Pretty amazing!

But I don't know if this clay will even fire properly. It could melt all over the kiln if heated too hot or maybe it will do the opposite and never fully vitrify (harden). So I can't wait to test it and see what happens!

This clay is in it's natural state, unlike the clay that most dinnerware is made from. The clay used to make our plates, cups, mugs, and other ceramic stuff often includes several types of clay plus non-clay additives that help make it easier to work with and allow for firing it at higher temperatures which translates into less porosity and greater strength.