Stable Nativity-w-Color Changing Light-Unboxed

Seller's description

Stable Nativity-w-Color Changing Light-Unboxed

This piece is signed: NM Artist JBower.

HOW A SPIRIT OF THE DESERT GIFT IS MADE

Spirit of the Desert gifts are hand made from Terra Cotta or white slip clay. Liquid clay is poured into a hollow plaster mold. The plaster mold pulls moisture from the clay. After a few minutes, the excess liquid clay is poured out of the mold, leaving a hollow shell of solidified clay. Anywhere from 3 hours to 24 hours later, the clay has hardened enough open the mold and remove the hollow item. While the clay is still soft, windows and doors are cut out, a high temperature wire for hanging is attached and other modifications necessary to make it a unique piece.

Now the soft, wet clay piece goes into a baking oven where all the remaining moisture is removed. (If the clay does not dry completely, the piece can explode in the kiln). This piece is called greenware and is very fragile. Terra Cota items are usually not painted but white slip pieces are painted with a high temperature glaze. Now the piece goes into a high temperature kiln where it is heated (fired) to about 1600 degrees. This hardens the piece and it is not so fragile. After several hours of heating, the kiln cools off over 8-10 hours. The piece is removed.

Now the final touches are put on the piece, like Mary, Joseph and Jesus in the doorway, or greenery is added, ladders and or Indian children add glued on to the piece. When it is finally done it is ready for you to place in your home or on your Christmas tree.