Behind
the Process

Step inside the Nassau studio. From the first sketch to the final kiln firing — this is the handcrafted journey behind every piece of Bahamian ceramic art.

“Every art piece that I make is a love letter to these islands. The sea, the sun, the people — they all live inside the glaze.”

— Jessica Colebrooke, Founder & Artist

Inspiration

THE BAHAMIAN WORLD AS CANVAS

Every piece begins with the islands themselves. Jessica draws from the coral reefs, sea turtles, tropical flora, and the layered cultural history of the Bahamian people.

Sketches fill pages — loose, expressive lines that capture the spirit of a sea turtle, the structure of a staghorn coral, or the organic curves of a seagrape leaf.

Working with stoneware clay, Jessica hand-builds each form. Tiles are pressed and shaped; teapots are thrown on the wheel and then sculpted by hand, adding spouts, handles, and decorative elements that give each piece its unique character.

No two pieces are identical — the hand-forming process ensures that every tile and teapot carries slight variations that make it genuinely one-of-a-kind.

Design & Sculpting

CLAY COMES ALIVE

First Firing (Bisque)

HARDENING THE FORM

Once shaped and air-dried, pieces go into the kiln for their first firing — called a bisque fire. Temperatures reach over 1,000°C, transforming soft clay into hard ceramic.

This is a critical step. Any imperfections in form or thickness become permanent here, which is why the sculpting phase demands such precision.

This is where the Bahamian palette comes to life. Using hand-mixed glazes in turquoise, coral, emerald, cobalt, and sandy cream, Jessica paints each piece with small brushes — layer by layer.

The glazing process is both science and art. Colours shift dramatically in the kiln, so experience and intuition are essential. What looks dull as raw glaze transforms into vibrant, luminous colour after firing.

Glazing

COLOUR BY HAND

Glaze Firing

THE MAGIC OF THE KLIN

The glazed pieces return to the kiln at even higher temperatures. The glaze melts, fuses to the ceramic body, and develops its final depth and sheen.

Jessica watches each firing closely — temperature curves, hold times, and cooling rates all affect the final colour and surface quality.

After the kiln cools, each piece is carefully inspected. Edges are smoothed, feet are finished, and any touch-up painting is done with cold-set enamels for fine detail.

Pieces that meet Jessica's standards are signed, numbered, and prepared for the studio collection. Select commissions receive a certificate of authenticity.

Finishing & Quality

READY FOR THE WORLD