A ceramic necklace may be small, but it is not a quick object to make. From the first piece of clay to the finished necklace, the process usually takes me four to five days.
Every Chair and Cup necklace is shaped completely by hand. I do not use a mould, and I complete every pattern and detail myself. Because the work is miniature, even a small change in the clay can affect the final shape.
Beginning with a familiar form
Most pieces begin with an everyday object, such as a chair or a cup. I first think about which parts make that object recognizable and which details can be changed.
A miniature chair still needs to feel like a chair, but it does not need to copy a full-sized one exactly. Its back, seat, legs, colors, and patterns can give it a completely different character. The same is true for the cups: the familiar shape remains, but its purpose changes from something used at a table into a small ceramic object that can be worn.
Shaping every piece by hand
I form each necklace directly from clay. Since no mould is used, the proportions and small details are shaped individually.
Working at this scale requires care. A section that is too thick may feel visually heavy, while one that is too thin may not survive the drying and firing process. I also need to consider how the finished ceramic form will hang when it becomes a necklace.
This is one reason handmade pieces are never perfectly identical. Even when I return to the same design, the pressure of my fingers and the movement of the clay create small differences.
Drying is the most uncertain stage
After shaping, the ceramic piece needs time to dry before it can be fired. This is the stage where failure happens most often.
Clay changes as moisture leaves it. A piece may look fine when it is first made, but cracks can appear after drying. Miniature joins and thinner areas need particular attention because they do not always dry at the same speed as the rest of the form.
This waiting period cannot be rushed. The piece needs enough time to dry properly before it moves to the next stage.
Firing, glazing, and adding the pattern
Once the form is dry, it goes through its first firing. After that, I add the glaze, colors, and individual patterns by hand.
The pattern is not a separate printed decoration. I complete the visual details myself, whether the design includes stripes, fruit, birds, hearts, stars, or more abstract markings. These details help each chair or cup develop its own mood.
The piece is then fired again. Heat can slightly change the glaze, color, and surface, so the final result is not completely visible until it comes out of the kiln.
Turning the ceramic form into a necklace
After the final firing, I finish and assemble the piece as a necklace. Every stage—from shaping the clay and completing the pattern to firing and final assembly—is handled by me.
From beginning to end, the process normally takes around four to five days. Some of that time is active making, while some of it is waiting for the clay, glaze, and firing process to do their work.
The finished necklace carries all of those stages in a very small form. Slight changes in shape, glaze flow, line, and color are part of how it was made.
Explore the Chair Necklace collection, the Cup Necklace collection, or see all handmade ceramic jewelry.
For advice on protecting a finished piece, read the ceramic jewelry care guide.