Jacqueline Schnoor

Mountain Free Work, Ceramic, 2023


After the first few weeks in Israel, it was clear that I wanted to incorporate my experiences into a project. I spent a lot of time hiking in the south. There is the Negev desert and great nature reserves. The mugs are modelled on the experience of the mountains. 

I used different photos that I took on the hikes, calculated a structure from them and transferred it to my moulded cup with the help of a heat map. For the cup, it was important to me to create a large capacity in a simple and small-looking cup. This makes it possible to drink a large iced coffee, water or a chai. The cup also has a small ledge at the bottom to make it easier to glaze later and to make the cup stand out visually from the table. To make the drinking experience as pleasant as possible, it was important to me to pour the clay and glaze as thinly as possible.




Process

I created the 3D model using the programme Blender.  This was printed out with a 3D printer and the edges were cleaned. It became clear that the relief of the cup would be difficult to realise. This resulted in a further model with an adapted structure, as well as a device for pouring the clay into the later plaster mould.

The plaster mould was then made in 3 steps using the model. First the right side, then the left side and finally the base. After a week, the mould was dry and the first clay cup could be made. To do this, the clay had to be mixed, poured into the mould and tipped out again after a minute. The clay was attracted to the mould by the porous plaster base and dried in it for a day. The mould was then opened, the cup worked again and finally left to dry for a week.  This was followed by the process of firing, glazing and re-firing the glaze.
But if the cup didn't crack or burst in the kiln, I could proudly hold my cup in my hand and, of course, drink a coffee or two from it.







©Jacqueline Schnoor2025
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