Creating a Handmade Ceramic Demijohn Vase
In this post, you can watch and learn how I create handmade ceramic demijohn vases using thin porcelain coils. This form is inspired by traditional glass demijohns—large bottles once used throughout Europe for storing and transporting wine.
Historical Inspiration: European Demijohn Bottles
While traveling in Italy, I repeatedly noticed abandoned demijohns resting in fields, yards, and alongside buildings. Many were empty, dusty, and clearly left behind years ago. These weathered vessels felt deeply tied to the land.
My research revealed that large glass bottle production became feasible in late medieval to early modern Europe, particularly in Italy and France. By the 16th and 17th centuries, demijohns were common in wine regions and port cities. Their classic form featured a bulbous or pear-shaped body, a short narrow neck, and thick green or amber glass. Woven wicker or straw casings protected the bottles, often with handles, and corks were used for sealing.
Sizes varied widely. In Italy, the 54-liter damigiana became a standard farm and winery vessel, while smaller 4–5 liter bottles were common in Iberian regions. These utilitarian objects were designed for function, durability, and repeated use.
Translating the Demijohn Form into Ceramic
I’ve been thinking about these forgotten bottles for several years. The breakthrough came after taking a course focused on working with very thin ¼-inch porcelain coils. That technique made it possible to translate the demijohn form into clay while maintaining lightness and strength.
I create ceramic demijohn vases by intentionally leaving the coil lines visible on the exterior. For me, these lines reference patterns found in nature—lines in the sand and the gentle movement of small waves along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
Surface, Glaze, and Lake Michigan Sand
The surfaces are painted with abstracted wave forms and finished with my signature glaze, which contains authentic Lake Michigan sand. The glaze melts just enough in the kiln to stabilize the surface while preserving the texture of both the sand and the exposed coil work.
Each ceramic demijohn is a balance of history, process, and place—connecting old European bottle forms with contemporary ceramic techniques and my ongoing relationship with the Lake Michigan landscape.
Watch the Coil-Building Process
You can watch the full coil-building process for creating a tall, vase-ready ceramic demijohn form here:
Watch me coil build a tall, vase-ready demijohn form:
Take care,
Cyndi
