Module: 1. Concept and Experimentation
Project Idea
A candle holder designed for two taper candles is based on the shape of two eighth notes. This is a reference to my main project involving music. The note heads and stems become cradles for the candles, while also serving as the plastic support and the object’s graphic foundation. It is important to me that the object functions not only as a practical item but also as a standalone piece of art.
Following consultation with the master, I selected Option 1: it is not top-heavy, lacks delicate legs, and avoids fragile details. The material is ceramic, using the natural white color of the clay, and the surface features a glaze without painted decoration. In the first module, I will develop the concept, sketches, construction, and technology. In the second module, I plan to fabricate the object in the chosen material, fire it, and prepare the production files.
Project Logo and Style
Select an option
There were three initial drafts: [01] Variant 1 — selected.
[02] Variant 2 — rejected due to uneven weight and width distribution (thin connections).
[03] Variant 3 — rejected due to uneven weight distribution.
First Sketches
Why option 01 was chosen:
— the structure is not overly complex; — it lacks delicate legs or fragile components; — the form is technologically viable for ceramics; — the object is stable; — the holders are sized for the actual diameter of table candles; — the object fits into the kiln; — the form maintains the recognizable shape of two eighth notes; — glazing is possible without losing the original concept.
Why Ceramics Instead of Porcelain
Porcelain is also white, but its whiteness is different. Porcelain provides a dense, almost glassy surface and a cool tone. I need a white that is warm and material—like paper, like the trace of a pencil. Ceramic made from natural white clay provides exactly that: a lively, slightly textured surface onto which light falls softly. Plus, ceramics are more technologically sound: they have a shrinkage of 8–11% compared to 12–17% in porcelain, a lower risk of warping in bosses and rims, and wider tolerances for wall thickness. This is critical for a candlestick that needs to be stable and functional.
Material
Selected material: white ceramic modeling clay. Name: «Firefly.»
Manufacturer: Russian production, available through «Gzhel Ceramics.»
Markings: grog 0–0.5 mm, grog content 10%.
Color after firing: white.
Recommended firing temperature: 1180–1270 °C
Total shrinkage during firing: 9–11%
Water absorption at 1250 °C: 7,5%
Plasticity: high, suitable for modeling, coil building, and impasto techniques.
Why this mass is suitable:
— The white color retains the project’s concept after firing.
— 10% grog reinforces the shape—nests and stilts will not deform.
— The 9–11% shrinkage is predictable and easily compensated for when calculating the nest diameter.
— The mass is plastic: allowing for manual modeling and adjustments.
— It is available in the studio and does not require specialized equipment like porcelain.
Manufacturing Technology
Structure:
— Two sockets for dining candles.
— Socket diameter before firing: 26–27 mm (accounting for 10% shrinkage; final diameter: 23.5–24.5 mm, suitable for a standard dining candle).
— Connections: fluting + groove.
— Wall thickness: 6–8 mm—sturdy enough, but not bulky.
— No thin legs or fragile crossbeams.
— The shape is stable; the center of gravity does not shift.
What we reviewed with the mentor:
[01] Mass shrinkage (actual, not specified);
[02] Final nesting diameter after firing;
[03] Glaze performance on white clay;
[04] Natural clay color after firing;
[05] Form stability;
[06] Absence of deformations in stems and nests.
Dimensions and Oven
Preliminary dimensions (before firing):
1) height: 20 cm;
2) width: 26 cm;
3) nest diameter: 26–27 mm;
4) wall thickness: 6–8 mm.After firing (accounting for ~10% shrinkage):
1) height: ~18.6 cm;
2) width: ~24.2 cm;
3) nest diameter: ~23.5–24.5 mm.Studio kiln:
1) volume: 130 L;
2) internal diameter: ~50 cm;
3) height: ~45 cm.
Conclusion: the object proceeds to the kiln with a technological margin. The exact dimensions after firing are fixed in the longread in Module 2.
Surface and Decoration
Surface:
— natural white ceramic body color;
— glaze: transparent matte, firing temperature 1180–1250 °C (e.g., HM-7167 or equivalent);
— no painted decoration;
— no decals;
— no engobes.
