A large cream moon jar on a timber plinth

Vases

Moor moon jar

Thrown in two halves, cream dolomite glaze

£165.005.031 reviews

Two bowls thrown on the wheel, joined at the belly while still leather-hard, then glazed in a cream dolomite that breaks to toast where it runs thin. Made to order in Edale; yours is fired within five weeks.

1

Made to orderFired and posted within 5 weeks

  • Free UK delivery over £75

    Wrapped in recycled paper and wool offcuts, never plastic.

  • 30-day returns

    Changed your mind? Send it back unused for a full refund.

  • Made within 60 miles

    Every maker is a day's drive from our Sheffield shop.

How it's made

A moon jar takes nine days, two halves and one nervous firing

  1. Clay-covered hands throwing a bowl on the wheel

    01Throwing

    Two bowls, thrown to the same rim

    Tom Okonjo throws each half from 4 kg of grogged stoneware, measuring the rim with callipers so the halves meet without a step. Most days he throws six and keeps four.

  2. Unglazed clay vessels drying on a plaster plinth

    02Joining

    Joined at the belly, left to dry slowly

    The halves are scored, slipped and pressed together while leather-hard, then dried under cloth for a week. The faint seam around the middle is the mark of the method, not a flaw.

  3. Finished vases in cream and terracotta on a shelf

    03Firing

    Dolomite glaze, fired to 1280°C

    A single dip in cream dolomite, then a 14-hour firing in the gas kiln. Where the glaze runs thin it breaks to a warm toast colour, so no two jars come out alike.

A moon jar should look like it's breathing. If it's perfectly round, I've overworked it, and it goes back in the bucket.

T

Tom Okonjo

Potter, Edale Valley Pottery

The details

Clay body
Grogged buff stoneware
Glaze
Cream dolomite, food safe
Firing
Reduction, 1280°C
Size
24 cm tall, 23 cm across
Weight
2.1 kg
Care
Wipe clean; watertight for stems