Stage 1. "The Intial Inspiration."

This may come from any number of different area's.

Both New Patterns and Shapes are both undertaken in house by the Gail Pittman design team.

The team will produce a range of prototypes, and over a number of weeks, finalize the design to a point where everyone involved is happy with the pattern design, shape and colors, and then will hand it over to production.

Idea's leading to our "Jambalaya"

Pattern (Pictured below)

Original idea's being sketched out, ready to be developed!

Stage 2. "The Forming Department."

If new pieces are required, the mold making department will then go to work making and perfecting molds and or dies, to allow the forming department to manufacture the piece itself, by either Casting, Jiggering, or Pressing the individual piece.

An Easter Rabbit being removed from it's mold!

A Bowl being Pressed on one of our Ram Presses!

Stage 3. "The Cleaning Department."

Once the piece has been sufficiently dried, it then moves on to the cleaning department, where the piece is prepared for painting.

One of our most popular pieces, the standing rabbit, being cleaned.

Stage 4. "The Art Room."

Here we apply the artwork to the piece, giving each piece its own unique character. Built up of several layers of color, all applied painstakingly by hand to create an individual work of art!

From lines to complex patterns, all being applied with care by hand

Our range of Glassware being painted by one of our Artists

Stage 5. "The Kiln Department."

The painted piece is now taken to the Kiln department where it undergoes its first firing process, the "Bisq" firing. Fired in a large industrial gas kiln to more than 2000 'F.

One of our kilns ready to be loaded with ware!

Each piece being carefully loaded onto the kiln ready for firing!

Stage 6. "The Glazing Department."

Once cooled, the piece is now taken to the Glazing department, where a coat of clear glaze is precisely applied using spray guns.

A 16 oz mug having the glaze applied inside and out.

Stage 7. "Back to The Kiln Department."

The glazed ware being loaded onto one of our glaze kilns.

From the glazing department the piece is once again dried, and then loaded onto one of our glaze kilns, where it receives its second firing, the"Glost" firing. This time it is fired in an electric kiln to arround 1950 'F, to ensure the final product has the "glossy wet look", associated with Gail Pittman ceramics.

The glazed ware ready to be loaded into the glaze kiln.

Stage 8. "Quality Control."

After cooling, the piece now proceeds to final inspection in our Quality control department. Each piece is checked for any imperfections, and from there moves through to the warehouse where it is packed with care and finally shipped out to you, our customer.