Impressed clay tile

Process & Production

This is a slab of clay impressed with a found object. The object in this case is a wooden log that has been modified by an insect (possibly Termites).

The clay slab is placed flat on the table and the found wooden log is rolled over it like a rolling pin, leaving the negative shapes from the long surface impressed onto the clay. A tile cutter is then used to cut the clay square when it is leather hard.

In this case the clay used was a mixture of 50% commercial white Earthenware and 50% local terracotta brick clay. It will fire to a light brown, but any clay can be used. This may also be glazed to give a different surface quality.

The sample was made at the Oficinas Da Ceramica e Da Terra Monetmor-o-Novo, Portugal: www.oficinasdoconvento.com