TL;DR: Making a porcelain vase involves casting or throwing porcelain clay, bisque firing, glazing, and a final high-temperature firing to about 2,300°F (1,260°C). Follow careful drying and firing schedules to prevent warping and cracking in this delicate, high-shrinkage clay body.
Step 1: Prepare Your Porcelain Clay
Choose a fine porcelain body suited to your method—casting slip for molds or plastic clay for wheel throwing. Wedge the clay thoroughly to remove air pockets, as trapped air causes bloating and cracks during firing. Keep the clay covered so it stays uniformly damp.
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Step 2: Form the Vase
Throw the vase on a potter’s wheel or slip-cast it in a plaster mold. Porcelain has low plasticity, so center and pull slowly with minimal water. Shape walls evenly, aim for a consistent 1/4-inch thickness, and refine the rim and foot while the clay is still slightly soft.
Step 3: Dry Slowly and Evenly
Porcelain shrinks up to 15 percent and cracks easily. Dry the vase under plastic for several days, turning it periodically so all sides dry at the same rate. Trim the foot when the clay reaches leather-hard stage, then let it dry completely until bone-dry.
Step 4: Bisque Fire
Bisque fire the vase to cone 04 (about 1,940°F / 1,060°C) with a slow initial ramp to burn off moisture and organic matter. Allow the kiln to cool gradually to avoid thermal shock.
Step 5: Glaze and Glaze Fire
Apply a porcelain-appropriate glaze by dipping, pouring, or spraying, keeping the foot ring clean. Fire to cone 6–10 (2,230–2,380°F / 1,220–1,305°C) following the glaze manufacturer’s schedule for a durable, translucent finish.
Tips
Test glazes on small porcelain tiles first, avoid overworking the clay, and never rush cooling. Store finished vases away from sudden temperature changes.
FAQ
Q: What temperature is porcelain fired to?
A: Porcelain is typically bisque fired to cone 04 and glaze fired between cone 6 and cone 10, roughly 2,230–2,380°F (1,220–1,305°C).
Q: Why does my porcelain vase crack while drying?
A: Uneven drying causes stress in porcelain’s fine particles. Dry slowly under plastic and rotate the piece so all sides lose moisture at the same rate.
Q: Can I make a porcelain vase without a wheel?
A: Yes. Slip casting in plaster molds or hand-building with porcelain clay both work well, though hand-built pieces require extra care because porcelain lacks plasticity.
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