Cone 6
Clay Body:
Standard 547 Red Sculpture
Kiwi Snow White Underglaze
 
While researching my family history on Ancestry, I discovered that the Elers brothers were pioneering potters in 17th-century England. Originally silversmiths from the Netherlands, John Philip Elers (born in Amsterdam around 1664) and his brother David Elers (born around 1656) moved to England in the late 1680s. They settled in Bradwell Wood, near Burslem in Staffordshire—an area that later became the heart of England’s pottery industry.
 
Around 1690, the brothers established a small pottery workshop there and began producing refined red stoneware inspired by imported Chinese Yixing ware. Their teapots, pitchers, and mugs were made of a fine red unglazed clay body, often decorated with molded or stamped relief motifs of Chinese flowers, dragons, and other Oriental-inspired designs.
 
The Elers are credited with introducing the use of slip casting and press molds to English pottery, techniques that eventually transformed the craft and laid the foundation for later industrial producers like Josiah Wedgwood. Despite their innovations, the venture proved financially difficult; the Elers factory closed around 1700 after their bankruptcy. Afterward, the brothers continued in trade—reportedly selling ceramics imported by the British East India Company. John Philip later moved to Dublin, Ireland, while David remained in London.
 
Jill focused on creating and applying the molds, while Nicole handled the wheel throwing. When using clay molds, it’s important to carve and refine the mold before pressing it onto the surface of the pot. One also needs to shim or trim away any excess clay from the back of the mold to keep the form even. Because the clay we used was very moist and slightly gritty, attaching the mold was tricky, it took us both to position it without it tearing or collapsing. After the mold was securely attached, we waxed around its edges to define the area, then applied the underglaze by hand-painting the surface.