How Our Porcelain Deer Brooch Came to Life

Our little deer began as a sketch and a wish to try something new. With the help of a 3D modeller, we created a mould, but tiny air bubbles meant we had to try again. Then came the porcelain casting, smoothing, firing, painting and delicate gold details. By the time she was ready, this small brooch had taken months of patience, experiments and care.

She may be small enough to sit on the lapel of a coat, but our porcelain deer took months to make. From the first sketch in December to the finished brooch in March, she led us through new techniques, failed attempts and many careful decisions.

From a sketch to a mould

We had wanted to try a more detailed porcelain shape for some time. After the Christmas rush, we finally drew our deer and worked with an experienced 3D modeller to bring her into three dimensions. Together, we adjusted the shape of her ears, the curve of her body and the thickness of the finer details. She had to look right, but she also had to survive the journey through the kiln.

The printed model helped us create a silicone mould and, from that, the plaster mould we needed for casting porcelain. Our first attempt was full of tiny air bubbles. They would have left marks on every brooch, so we tried again, this time using a vibrating table to help release the trapped air.

The details that make her ours

The first porcelain casts were experiments. We smoothed each shape, let it dry and fired it for the first time at 960°C. We also had to allow for the porcelain shrinking as it dried and fired: the finished deer would be around 11–14% smaller than the original design.

Then came one of our favourite parts: mixing colours and painting her by hand. We tested the shades until her face and coat felt just right. After glazing and another firing, we added the delicate gold details and fired her once more.

Even the pin on the back needed thought. It had to hold the brooch securely and keep her from turning when worn.

By the end of March, our deer was ready. When we look at her now, we remember the sketches, the bubbles in that first mould and every small adjustment along the way. All that work is held in one tiny porcelain brooch.