Clay Demonstration

Here I am going to tell you how to make a mould for bottle slumping in a kiln.  Bottle slumping is when glass bottles (preferably wine bottles, because they are a good size) are put inside a kiln until they start to 'slump'.  They are very decorative and practical and they have many uses, such as trays for food, and are also very good looking and decorative.

A decorative slumped wine bottle

These are the materials and equipment for making the mould:

• Clay ( in a plastic consistency state)
• A Clay mat
• A few paper towels and a bit of masking tape
• A rolling pin
• A knife (it doesn't have to be sharp) and fork
• A beaker of water
• A wine bottle

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• Step 1:  If you wish, take off the label- you might not want to however, and it isn't necessary because the label wont melt all over the bottle.  Cover your wine bottle simply around the main body with the paper towels and secure it with a small piece of masking tape.

• Step 2:  Flatten the clay with your palm- EVENLY!.  Then use the rolling pin to make sure they thickness is 1cm all over, and use the rolling pin to help make it even.  Make sure both sides are flat. 

• Step 3:  With your knife, cut around the clay to make it fit over about half of the bottle, then place the clay onto the bottle to make sure it fits.  Remember to roll all the edges pointing up, and that your bottle will slump roughly into the shape of your mould!

• Step 4:  With the excess clay, make 4 small balls- these will act as the legs of the mould.  Once they are made, use your fork to cross hatch the bottom of the balls, and cross hatch the main frame of the mould in each corner.  Place each ball onto the main frame (make sure you put the cross hatched areas touching each other, and secure it with slip (a glue like substance which is a mixture of clay and water).

• Step 5:  Wait for the mould to go bone dry (keeping the bottle in it).  Once the mould is bone dry then place it in the kiln at 1100 degrees Celsius.