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The Making of Dunoon Teaware

Dunoon's strength is in producing superior mugs that are objects of beauty and yet practical for everyday use. Take a peek behind the scenes at Dunoon's headquarters to see how Dunoon products are made!


Dunoon Making Process:

1. Making plaster moulds:

Making Dunoon Fine Bone China

Making Dunoon Fine Bone China                                     Making Dunoon Fine Bone China

Plaster and water are mixed in a jug to a set ratio. The mix is poured into rubber cases, allowing it to set. 

 

2. Making slip:

Making Dunoon Fine Bone China

Making Dunoon Fine Bone China

Clay is mixed with water to form a suspension known as slip. 

 

3. Filling the moulds with slip:

Dunoon Fine Bone China

Dunoon Fine Bone China 

The slip is poured into moulds on the casting process. The moulds travel to the end of the casting belt in about five minutes. 

 

4. Tipping the excess slip: 

Dunoon Fine Bone China

Dunoon Fine Bone China

The excess slip is poured our and the mould allowed to drain. 

 

5. Opening the moulds

Dunoon Fine Bone China

 

Dunoon Fine Bone China

The moulds are opened and the soft clay mug is taken out

 

6. Sponging the clay mug:

Dunoon Fine Bone China

Dunoon Fine Bone China    Dunoon Fine Bone China

The dry clay mug is sponged by hand to remove any imperfections. 

 

7. Handle casting:

Dunoon Fine Bone China

 

Dunoon Fine Bone China Dunoon Fine Bone China

The hands are cast in a similar manner to the mugs in a two-part mould. 

 

8. Sticking the handle: 

Dunoon Fine Bone China

Dunoon Fine Bone China

The handle is dabbed into the slip and applied to the mug body by hand. The excess slip from around the handle joint is wiped away with a sponge. 

 

9. Placing & firing the clay mug:

Dunoon Fine Bone China

The clay mugs are placed onto kiln cars which are wheeled into & out of the kiln. 

 

10. Biscuit kiln:

Dunoon Fine Bone China

 

Dunoon Fine Bone China

The firing takes eleven hours & is to 1220 degrees Celsius in a gas kiln. 

 

11. Biscuit selection & grinding: 

Dunoon Fine Bone China

Dunoon Fine Bone China        Dunoon Fine Bone China

Once fired, the biscuit mugs are inspected, any faults are ground our using a sanding belt. 

 

12. Polishing the biscuit mug: 

Dunoon Fine Bone China

 

 

Once fired, the biscuit mugs are inspected & polished in a vibro mill. 

 

13. Applying the glaze: 

Dunoon Fine Bone China

Dunoon Fine Bone China    Dunoon Fine Bone China

Glaze is applied by hand dipping. the glaze is a glass powder suspended in water. 

 

14. Glost Kiln:

Dunoon Fine Bone China

The dried, glazed ware is placed onto the kiln cars. These are put into an elective kiln and fired to 1080 degrees Celsius for seven hours. 

 

15. Reduction after firing: 

Dunoon Fine Bone China

From start to finish, the mug reduces in size. the clay mug starts our 12.5% larger than the finished fired mug. 

 

16. Glost selection & grinding:

Dunoon Fine Bone China

After lost firing each mug us inspected & any fault polished out before decorating. 

 

17. Lithograph standards: 

Dunoon Fine Bone China

Each mug is decorated to a set standard. 

 

18. Applying the litho:

Dunoon Fine Bone China

 

Dunoon Fine Bone China Dunoon Fine Bone China

The litho is put into water which allow it to slide off the backing paper. After application, water and air are removed from beneath the litho with a squeegee. 

 

19. Firing the lithographed ware: 

Dunoon Fine Bone China

The lithographed ware is placed onto kiln cars and fired in an electric kiln to 825 degrees Celsius in five hours. During the firing the glaze softens and the enamel colours stick to the glaze surface. 

 

20. Decorating kilns:

Dunoon Fine Bone China

Dunoon Fine Bone China

 

21: Final inspection:

Dunoon Fine Bone China

 

Dunoon Fine Bone China

The finished mugs are 100% inspected for faults. The Dunoon shield label is only applied to conforming mugs. 

 

22. Packing & despatching:

Dunoon Fine Bone China

 

Dunoon Fine Bone China

Dunoon Fine Bone China

The mugs are put into inner cartons & orders are made up for despatch. 

 

23. Design studio: 

Dunoon Fine Bone China

 

Dunoon Fine Bone China

Dunoon Fine Bone China

The design studio has a very important role to play ay Dunoon. Original design concepts are generated by our in-house designers and from feedback from our sales team. 

 

24. Lithograph printing:

Dunoon Fine Bone China

 

Dunoon Fine Bone China

The original artwork is separated and individual screens are made before screen printing each colour down onto water slide transfer paper. 

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