BEHIND THE SCENES

Hillgrove Pottery is a husband and wife team operating a traditional, working pottery in rural Murrumbateman, NSW.

Enjoy a few pictures of the hard work, fun, joy, tears and frustrations that go on behind the scenes.

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Prometheus

Our kiln is named for the Titan Prometheus who stole fire from the gods. This stanza from Longfellow is written on his western side

Kirra makes off

Studio assistant makes off with a cup at a photo-shoot...

Bisqued pots

This represents less than half of what our kiln can hold.

Commissioned cups

Small coffee mugs exclusive to Six8 Coffee Roasters in Yass NSW

Glaze stack

The kiln stacked ready for a glaze firing. We fire to 1285 degrees Centigrade over a 12-14 hour period

Teapot

Short, fat teapot in Ocean Night glaze variation

Photoshoot

Behind the scenes at Alex’s studio shooting the publicity shots for The Rubicon exhibition. Protip: Photography sessions go better with hamburgers…

Potters...

What we actually do...

Hittite wine-jar in a tree

Where the naughty wine jars go...

Visitors

Charlie regularly brings 'the boys' down for a visit.

Glaze Test Rings

These are made quickly by the hundred and are about the size of a napkin ring. To test a new glaze, we make up small batches of glaze recipes and dip these little rings in. If the glaze shows promise we will make a bigger batch and then test it on a small piece, maybe a mug, and if it passes that test we will start using it in the main firings – in small quantities at first. If we had a dollar for every glaze test ring we have made and tested, we’d be retired now!

A sneak peek

Can never resist - opened the kiln at 350 degrees and took a quick pic.