Smooth White Earthenware Paper Clay

Smooth White Earthenware Paper Clay is a smooth, fibre-reinforced ceramic clay designed for hand-building, sculpture and creative clay construction. Containing finely chopped flax fibres, it offers a forgiving working consistency that makes it suitable for beginners and experienced ceramicists alike.

One of the main advantages of paper clay is its ability to re-wet and rework greenware, even as it begins to dry. This allows students to reshape forms, make alterations and add fresh clay throughout the construction process. Particularly useful for sculptural projects developed over several lessons, it provides greater flexibility when experimenting with form and structure.

This earthenware paper clay can be kiln fired and glazed using traditional ceramic techniques, producing a pale buff finish after firing. Its smooth texture makes it suitable for building sculptural forms, creating surface details and exploring three-dimensional ceramic techniques.

Supplied in a 5kg bag, it is a useful material for school and college ceramics, pottery workshops and specialist sculpture projects.

Key Features

Smooth white earthenware paper clay

Contains finely chopped flax fibres

Forgiving consistency for hand-building and sculpture

Greenware can be re-wetted and reworked

Allows fresh clay to be added at different drying stages

Suitable for beginners and experienced ceramicists

Can be kiln fired and glazed

Fires to a pale buff finish

Supplied in a 5kg bag

Firing Temperatures

Bisque firing: 1080–1120°C

Glaze firing: 1080–1180°C

Best For

Hand-building and sculptural ceramics

Three-dimensional clay construction

Reworking and altering greenware

Building complex forms over multiple sessions

Exploring form, structure and surface texture

Earthenware pottery and ceramic sculpture

GCSE, A Level, FE and HE ceramics

School and college pottery workshops

Important Information

Ventilation: The flax fibres burn away during firing between approximately 100°C and 400°C. Ensure the kiln room is well ventilated throughout firing.

Firing: Allow clay work to dry thoroughly before kiln firing. Follow the recommended bisque and glaze firing temperatures.

Fired appearance: The clay fires to a pale buff colour.

Water resistance: Kiln-fired earthenware is not automatically waterproof. For vessels intended to hold liquids or pieces exposed to frost, apply a suitable glaze to help reduce water absorption, ensuring the glaze is free from pinholes and crazing. Glazing does not guarantee complete impermeability or frost resistance.

Protecting surfaces: Always place vessels holding water on a protective mat to prevent moisture damage to porous surfaces such as wood.