Ceramic Brooch Alu-chan and Pakarin (Alpacas)

The one in the front is Alu-chan, and the one behind is Pakarin. The alpaca is an animal that I have been curious about ever since I saw a small illustration of it in the Andes region of a social studies atlas. Size: Approx. 35mm (height) x 45mm (width) Material: Ceramic *The photo is a sample. *We may change materials for subsequent restocks. ‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥ About the Production Process Based on a sketch, the clay is molded, slightly dried, and refined repeatedly. I work on pieces for about a month to gather enough quantity to fill the kiln evenly. The bisque firing takes 7 hours, after which the pieces are removed, wiped with water, individually glazed, and then undergo the main firing for 12 hours. Some pieces are treated with gold glaze and fired again for 7 hours. Since the ceramics need to cool slowly, we wait about two days after each firing before removing them from the kiln. Then, each piece is carefully inspected, and a pin is attached to those that meet quality standards. Currently, the success rate is about 70%. Although this process requires a long time and effort, the result is a decorative brooch that combines the texture of the clay, the strength of the ceramic, the luster of the glaze, and the sparkle of the gold (where applied). We believe this is an item that can be used for a long time without fading.