Goerg & Schneider Clay 551 Red, 40% Grog, 0–0.2 mm

Goerg & Schneider Clay 551 – red-firing stoneware clay for throwing and hand building

Clay 551 from Goerg & Schneider is a red-firing stoneware clay with 40% grog (particle size 0–0.2 mm). You can throw it on the potter's wheel and use it to hand build small to medium-sized pieces. The clay is plastic, and the fine grog gives it stability.

After firing, the clay body ranges from light red to dark red depending on the temperature. According to the manufacturer, the warm red colour is retained even at higher temperatures. Unglazed surfaces therefore look warm and natural. The firing range of 1000 °C to 1220 °C allows work in both the lower and upper stoneware range.

Throwing and hand building

The 40% grog makes the clay stable. This helps when you pull up larger vessels or build coils into medium-sized pieces. The fine particle size of 0–0.2 mm keeps the surface comparatively even, so you can smooth it and work on it further. Build small to medium-sized pieces by hand and throw large pieces on the potter's wheel.

Drying, firing and glazing

Allow for firing shrinkage when shaping: according to the manufacturer, it is approx. 6% (1140 °C) to approx. 7% (1200 and 1220 °C), so your piece will become correspondingly smaller. With larger pieces or those of uneven thickness, dry the clay slowly and evenly so that no stress cracks form. The red clay body colour affects the glaze result, especially with light or translucent glazes. A test piece made from this clay shows you beforehand how the glaze looks. The stated coefficient of thermal expansion helps you match glaze and clay.

Goerg & Schneider Clay 551 product details

• Manufacturer: Goerg & Schneider, clay no. 551
• Type: red-firing stoneware clay
• Grog content: 40%
• Particle size: 0–0.2 mm
• Firing range: 1000–1220 °C
• Clay body colour after firing: light red to dark red
• Firing shrinkage: approx. 6% at 1140 °C, approx. 7% at 1200 °C, approx. 7% at 1220 °C
• Thermal expansion coefficient: 67 × 10⁻⁷ °C⁻¹ (20–500 °C, fired at 1200 °C)
• Contents: 10 kg

You will also need: kiln and pottery tools; a potter's wheel for throwing. Suitable glaze of your choice.