Studio de Kleibakker

Welcome to Studio de Kleibakker, an intimate and deeply focused environment situated right here in The Hague. The moment you step inside, you will notice a distinct shift in the acoustic atmosphere. …

Our first point of study is the wedging and preparation station, marked by heavy, low tables topped with thick canvas and porous plaster. This is where the physical reality of the craft is most apparent. …

Moving deeper into the studio, we arrive at the precision throwing area. Here, the meticulously prepared clay is finally brought to the wheel. …

Once the thrown forms have rested and lost a specific amount of moisture, transitioning from a plastic state to what potters call 'leather-hard', they are brought here to the trimming and turning station. This is a phase of…

We arrive now at the surface decoration desk, a space dedicated to the complex, tactile enhancement of the raw clay before it undergoes its first firing. In many ways, the surface of a ceramic vessel acts as a canvas, but a…

Our exploration brings us to the glazing vats, large plastic containers filled with what appears to be uninspiring, chalky liquid. However, these vats hold the potential for extraordinary chemical transformation. …

We stand now before the high-fire kilns, the monumental pieces of equipment that define the ultimate success or failure of the ceramic enterprise. The firing process is the great equalizer in pottery. …

As our detailed academic tour of Studio de Kleibakker draws to a close, it is essential to reflect on the profound nature of the objects created within these walls. The ceramic vessels we have followed, from their origins as…

As you prepare to leave Studio de Kleibakker, take one last look around this dedicated workspace. You have journeyed through the entire demanding process of ceramic creation, from the rigorous wedging of the grogged, earthy clay,…