Preparation of Clay.

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Date:1930 - 1939 (c.)

Description:Pottery factory interior with a view of two men wedging clay.

Wedging was the process of removing pockets of air from the clay and ensuring consistant texture.

The man in the picture is forcing one load of clay onto another to achieve this.

If air pockets remained in the clay they would burst during firing and ruin the ware.

This was very heavy work and was very often done by women and children.

Taken in Stoke-on-Trent.

Taken from the Gladstone Pottery Museum Photographic Collection.

This photograph is part of the collections at Stoke-on-Trent Museums.

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Image courtesy of: Cheddleton Flint Mill Trust

Donor ref:(88/15252)

Source: Potteries Museum & Art Gallery

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