Sweet Salone Cups

Each cup and jug is unique as all pottery, made at Lettie Stuart Pottery in Sierra Leone, is handmade and fired in a wood kiln. There is always some color difference depending on the position in the oven and the temperature. Also, the format can be slightly different as several people slide each product. The clay is handcrafted from the ground in Sierra Leone.

Icelandic Design produced in Sierra Leone.

Behind every product is a long process. Developing raw clay into a finished product usually takes about three to five weeks, depending on the season. The raw clay is bought in a village where the soil is very clayey and taken to the pottery center where it is left to dry. Then it is crushed in a large mortar and sieved so that a fine powdery material remains. The next step is to wash the clay. Water is mixed with the powder and allowed to drain slowly, and again the mixture is pressed through a sieve. The clay is then placed in a plastic bag and on a plastic slab so that the remaining water drains out. Finally, the clay is kneaded and is then ready for use.

The product is shaped on the kick wheel and once the correct shape has been achieved, it is left to dry. Drying of the finished product can take up to three weeks depending on the weather, but during the rainy season (May-October) the humidity is 85-95% most days and drying can take a long time. When the product is dry enough, it is fired in an oven, so-called bisque firing. In the wood oven, the burning takes at least 12 hours. After firing, the product is then glazed and fired again at a high temperature. The whole firing and glazing process can take up to a week, and then finally we have an item ready for sale.

Size guide