Former biologist, Geraldine K., switched her career to ceramics fifteen years ago. Located in Chatou, she mainly produces tableware and decorative items, made from stoneware or porcelain.
“I wasn’t always a ceramist,” recounts Geraldine K. Initially trained in biology, she began her career in scientific research. It was during a post-doctoral internship in the United States that she discovered pottery. “It became an immense pleasure. It immediately captivated me,” she explains.
Back in France, she decided to seriously train by obtaining a CAP in Montreuil. Fifteen years later, she established a ceramic production workshop in Chatou.
To create her pieces, Geraldine starts by working with a block of stoneware. Once formed, the pieces, still soft, are stored on shelves to dry before undergoing an initial firing at 1000°C. It is only during the second firing at 1300°C that the material undergoes its final transformation. “At this stage, the clay becomes non-recyclable,” she points out.
For firing her creations, the ceramist uses a barrel kiln, which she fills completely to optimize her firings. “It may not seem like much, but 1300°C is extreme. In fact, when I start a firing, my workshop becomes relatively unbreathable after a few hours,” she describes. “That’s why I do my firings at night, it allows me to work normally the next day.” The kiln temperature takes about ten hours to rise and nearly two days to cool down. “This morning, for example, I took out some pots. Just to give you an idea: I had put them in two days ago, in the evening at 23h.”
In parallel, Geraldine K. glazes certain pieces in her collection. For this, she prepares her own paste, composed of precisely measured powders. “It will first be matte. Once fired at 1300 degrees, this white powder will become a smooth and shiny glaze,” she explains.
“I am guided by my genuine needs at home,” says Geraldine K., a ceramist in Chatou.
The majority of her production focuses on tableware: bowls, cups, teapots, salad bowls, and even egg cups. This avid tea lover designs objects intended for everyday use. “For example, my friends and I were looking for nice, stackable and easy-to-clean egg cups. So I made them myself,” she recounts. Today, this aspect is increasingly prominent in her thought process. Some creations combine clay and leather, which she cuts herself. “This helps break the mineral and sometimes cold aspect of ceramic,” she explains.
“Promoting a different consumption pattern”
Beyond her artisanal passion, the ceramist advocates for a broader approach. “I try to promote a different consumption pattern,” she asserts. “I haven’t triggered a desire to buy. It responds to real needs.” After fifteen years of activity, Geraldine K. indeed observes an evolution. “People are increasingly interested in this way of consuming. I also notice that my customer base has become very loyal.”
