The old Relbia Pottery has been established for over sixty years. The current business utilises the original buildings which houses the old enormous oil-fired brick kiln, and much of the hardware used to produce Relbia Pottery's famous pots, pipes and tiles
Clay moulding is a process whereby a plaster mould is taken from a clay prototype. Depending on the size and complexity of the mold, it may be cast as one or a number of sections.
Each section is then evenly lined with soft clay and skillfully pressed with the hands (or in some cases with a press) to take on the shape of the mould. This process is in contrast to 'wheeled' pots which are 'thrown' on a potters wheel, and can therefore limit the shape, size and detail of the finished product.
After drying, the mould is removed from the clay, the various sections are joined with soft clay and air dried prior to it being placed in the kiln. The form is fired at approximately 1100 degrees Celsius. The finished terra cotta (baked earth) or bisque product with all it's inherent qualities such as utility, durability, earthy colours and natural beauty is now complete.
The finished product can be glazed, in which case it needs to be fired once more, or left unglazed (bisque). The applications of moulded terra cotta are wide and varied and can range from a statuesque chimney pot weighing many kilos to a simple lightweight floor tile
