CASTING
Steps to making a Porcelain Doll
1
Select a subject mould into which is poured a slip. The mould absorbs the water from the slip, this may take up to an hour.
2
The greenware is then removed from the mould, allow to stand and harden, ready for the kiln.
3
The greenware is placed in the kiln, which runs at 720 0C for two hours which is then left to cool for a further eight hours.
4
Remove from the kiln and eyes cut, areas enhanced, e.g. finger nails, lips and knuckles.
5
The soft-fired is put back into the kiln at 1225 0C for four hours, leaving to cool for twelve hours.
At any point in this process, it is quite possible to 'lose' a subject due to cracking or collapsing.
1
Sand the outside of the subject to make the surface smooth and clean with surgical spirit.
2
Paint is mixed to make the appropriate colour. Paint is applied to create the desired character, one layer or feature at a time.
3
The painted subject is fired each time a new layer of colour is applied, or each feature painted, e.g. cheeks, eyes, lips, nails, teeth. Again fired at 720 0C. A subject might be fired up to six times.
Each time the subject goes into the kiln, the subject is put at risk.
The subjects are fixed together, head, arms, legs etc, with a Calico body, which is cut out and sewn using a pattern.Armatures could be inserted to give the doll movement and a pose. You could also use mechanical armatures allowing the doll to 'dance' or 'wiggle'
This is when the torso is brought to life and jumps into its character from the imagination of Mandy and Ruby.Every part of the doll's costume is hand-made, from head to foot including the shoes, hats and underwear.
This may take approximately a week to dress a doll depending upon the complexity of the doll.
From start to finish each doll can take up to 6 weeks to complete.
This site was developed by Jonathan Furness, 2004