Modelling a figure

A figure is assembled from simple units: the ball, the roll and the slab. The base comes first, a lump of clay flattened with a beater (a palmatória) and pierced so it will not burst in the kiln. The body is a thick roll; for a woman, the maker hollows its lower end with a knife to form the skirt. The face is pressed from a ball of clay in a mould and joined with a neck, and the hair is scratched in with a small tool called a teco. Arms are small rolls: the thinner end is flattened into a hand, and fingers are cut with the teco.

For the clothes, the maker rolls out a slab of clay with a wooden rolling pin, cuts the garments from it with a razor and dresses the figure, taking care to leave the folds neat. Modelling is done without moulds except for faces, the nativity throne and some bases, and the moulded faces are easily recognised as a maker's signature. Other tools include a wire to cut clay, a marble slab that stops it sticking, brushes for slip and paint, and jars, now glass or recycled plastic, holding bright paints.