CLAY EARTHENWARE Modern and 500 years old

These are clay pieces that I made from raw clay

harvested from the banks of local lakes. These 

pieces have been dried, fired and lightly sanded

Red and grey clay

 found on the banks of local lakes.

FORMED INTO A MOIST BALL

READY FOR SCULPTING

SEASTAR 

ready to dry

AIR DRIED FOR THREE WEEKS

The dried pieces are placed in the centre of the

fire pit.

Making a "ring" of fire will allow the pieces to 

heat up gradually.

Gradually build the fire closer to the centre.

Gradually completely cover the clay pieces.

We kept our fire hot for 5 hours sustaining

ourselves with hot dogs and marshmallows! 

Bank your fire overnight. We covered ours 

with wet needles and leaves followed by

damp dirt from the garden. Our embers

actually took over 26 hours to cool down enough 

to remove our fired pieces.

Removing the dirt 24 hours later we 

still noted glowing embers.

My little oil lamp actually works.

These are clay tiles left by the Basque Whalers

over 500 years ago along the West coast of

Newfoundland. I found numerous tiles  along a 

remote stretch of beach tucking several 

of these treasures away in my backpack. In the

same area I uncovered a beautiful ancient whalebone.

TILE WITH WHALEBONE

CLOSE-UP POROUS WHALEBONE