Goerg & Schneider 441 – Grogged Clay for Raku and Hand Building

Goerg & Schneider 441 is an earthenware clay that fires white to light cream. It is designed for building larger ceramic pieces and contains 45% grog with a grain size of 0.2 to 0.8 mm. The grog helps the clay hold its shape while you work. Its high resistance to temperature changes also makes it a popular choice for Raku firing.

Whether you are making a large vessel, sculpture or decorative object, clay 441 is a useful choice when your piece needs support during hand building and a textured clay surface suits your design. The recommended firing range is 1000 to 1180 °C.

Hand-Building Clay for Large Forms and Raku Ceramics

The noticeable grain makes this clay particularly suitable for hand-built and modelled pieces. If you want a very fine, smooth finish on the pottery wheel, a finer throwing clay may be a better choice.

– Suitable for building larger ceramic pieces
– Popular for Raku firing
– 45% grog with a grain size of 0.2 to 0.8 mm
– Earthenware clay that fires white to light cream
– Recommended firing range: 1000 to 1180 °C
– High resistance to temperature changes

Is clay 441 suitable for beginners?

Yes, especially if you want to try building larger pieces using slabs or coils. The grog gives the clay additional support. Bear in mind that its grain will be more noticeable during shaping and on the finished surface than that of a finely grogged clay.

Can I use this clay without Raku firing?

Yes. Goerg & Schneider lists hand building as its application; suitability for Raku is an additional characteristic. Choose a firing schedule and, if needed, a glaze that suit your project and the recommended firing range.

Our experience: A heavily grogged clay helps larger hand-built forms keep their shape while you work. Keep the texture of clay 441 in mind if your design calls for a particularly smooth surface.

Our tip: Let large pieces, or pieces with sections of different thicknesses, dry slowly and as evenly as possible. Loosely cover thinner areas at first while thicker sections are still releasing moisture. For Raku projects, fire a test piece before committing a larger work.

Technical details

– Manufacturer: Goerg & Schneider
– Product number: 441
– Clay type: earthenware
– Application: hand building
– Firing colour: white to light cream
– Grog content: 45%
– Grog grain size: 0.2 to 0.8 mm
– Recommended firing range: 1000 to 1180 °C
– Drying shrinkage: approximately 4%
– Firing shrinkage at 1070 °C: approximately 1%
– Firing shrinkage at 1140 °C: approximately 2%
– Water absorption at 1070 °C: approximately 12%
– Water absorption at 1140 °C: approximately 9%