How a sardine is made: from clay to glaze
Two firings, five days and a very steady hand. A morning in the studio with our painters.
· 5 min read
Every sardine starts as a slab of fine white stoneware, pressed by hand into a plaster mould we carved ourselves. It dries for two days before its first firing at 980°C, which turns it into bisque: pale, porous and ready for colour.
Painting, one brushstroke at a time
Our painters work freehand. Scales, stripes and azulejo flowers are never traced, so no two fish are the same. A single Statement sardine can take a whole afternoon.
“If two sardines look identical, one of us wasn't paying attention.”
The second firing
A clear, lead-free glaze goes on last. At 1,200°C it melts into glass and gives the colours the wet, glossy look people notice first. It's also why we can't promise the exact shade you see on screen: the kiln decides the details.
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