French la Vie

Black clay in her hands—
a whisper, “chut je t’aime” shaped,
glazed in quiet light.

My friend Monique Mo, lives in France, and works with black volcanic clay instead of the more common red. She makes her own slip, which she pours into molds, and then hand-finishes each piece with carefully crafted details. She also mixes her own white majolica glaze, creating a striking contrast against the dark clay. Her process is rooted in traditional techniques, but the results feel fresh and refined.

Like the bean-to-bar approach in chocolate making, my friend Monique does it all by hand. She starts with black volcanic clay, breaking it down and mixing it with water to make her own slip. She pours this into plaster molds she has designed herself—plaster naturally draws out some of the excess moisture, helping the clay take shape. Once the forms are set and detailed, she finishes them with a glaze she creates from crushed glass, giving each piece a subtle, handcrafted finish from start to fire.

Black clay isn’t as forgiving as red clay—it’s temperamental, prone to cracking, especially during firing, and demands patience and precision. Mo doesn’t count the hours it takes to create each piece; the process unfolds over days. From making the slip and pouring it into her molds, to refining the shapes, letting them dry, then firing, glazing, and firing again—each piece takes three to four days, minimum. It’s slow work, but it’s her rhythm, and the result is pottery that holds the mark of every step.

Mo, is one of those people who makes beauty look effortless, though I know how much time, thought, and heart she pours into it. xx