Stoneware Plate With Crab Fossil Impression

Materials:

crab shell
stoneware clay
light gray semi-matte glaze
dark gray matte glaze
white glossy glaze
slab roller or rolling pin
various clay working tools&151;ruler, knife, sponge, brayer
6" x 6" piece of 3/4" thick plywood
12" x 12" piece of Masonite board
electric skillet and melted wax
paintbrush
kiln
natural sponge
container of water
squeeze bottle
scrubby pad
spray applicator for glaze

Crab Stamp

1. Empty, wash and dry a cooked crab shell. Separate the crab shell into the following parts: main body shell, left and right claws (front legs), left and right paddle fins (back legs) and one pair of left and right skinny legs. The remaining parts can be discarded.

2. Carefully press the crab shell parts into a clay slab (figures A and B). The crab shell is very brittle, so handle with care. Make the impressions as deep as possible (figure C).

3. When the clay slab has dried for two or three days, press fresh clay into the crab impressions to form the stamps (figure D).

• Make a separate stamp for each segment of the crab (figure E).
• Make seven total stamps, one for the body, and one for each of the six legs.
• Push the clay up a little on each stamp to make a handle.

4. Fire the stamps to a bisque temperature—approximately 1900-degrees F.