Burnished brick

Culture & Context

This is a combination of two ancient techniques, moulded brick making and burnishing using locally sourced clay.

Process & Production

The brick is moulded traditionally using wet clay and wooden moulds. The familiar rough surface of the brick is removed by coating with a red slip and hand burnishing giving it a smooth shiny surface. This surface gives the traditional functional brick a new identity as a contemporary object. It differentiates it from the mass produced, functional construction material to a hand finished, crafted object that may be used in many art, craft and design situations.

Made at the Oficinas Da Ceramica e Da Terra Monetmor-o-Novo, Portugal, www.oficinasdoconvento.com