New Architectural Clay

(photo of balloon bowl is NOT architectural clay, and I will post a new photo after I make something with the Architectural Clay)

 Sheffield Pottery’s Architectural Stoneware Clay

Let’s give it a try.

I love clay with lots of grog, speckles and chunky bits as there is something about it that brings out the creativity and non conformist sculpting ideas.
As we are “functional” potters, it is one requirement that we must adhere to - it must have a function - not just to look at, but let’s use it for something.
This is perhaps the frugality of my being rising to the surface.
I don’t consider this functional pottery requirement to be a stumbling block - just an assignment to push sculptural ceramics to functional artistry.
Somehow the clay determines the outcome, especially when it’s a cream color with dark flecks.
I actually have no idea what this clay will do in our hands, but it is intended for hand-building techniques. We will attempt slabs, coils, pinch pots, altering with a piece of wood, and wheel-throwing.
Wheel-throwing!?!?!?
You said, it’s intended for hand-building.
That’s right.
We’ll try everything, and hopefully our fingers can tolerate small, medium and large grog without too much numbness.
Here’s the link to Sheffield Pottery’s Architectural Clay, and here are some specs:

Temperature Range: Cone 6 - 10
Grog: Fine, medium and course
Color in Oxidation: Light Buff
Color in Reduction: Tan-Brown
Shrinkage: c10/oxidation: 6%
Absorption: c10/oxidation: 1.00%

"Architectural Buff is a sculpture clay designed specifically to meet the demands of architectural and large sculptural ceramics.
Its high grog content allows you to work quickly while knowing the clay has the ability to tolerate very thick construction without cracking.
Architectural Buff is commonly fired at all temperatures and is very responsive to atmospheric firings, especially wood kilns". (Sheffield Pottery's website).

Now we must be careful because the absorption rate stated is for Cone 10, and we fire to Cone 6. We will not plan to construct anything that intentionally only holds liquids
The firing range is wide - Cone 6 - 10. 
I’m hoping this clay inspires my creativity.
Sheffield Pottery does have a stoneware clay that is similar, however it doesn’t have as many speckles, and its absorption rate at Cone 6 is 4% - way too high for flower vases.
I’ll simply have to state in the description - not intended to hold water.

The reason I'm considering Sheffield Pottery clay is because while on their mailing list, they emailed me a link to a short (28 minute) video of John Cowen, President, Sheffield Pottery, explaining the process of how they manufacture Sheffield Pottery clay to interviewer, George Murphy of the PBS television show - Making It Here. (WGBY)
I was so impressed with the video, the equipment used to make the clay and tour of the production plant, that I promised myself to try some of their clay.
Although I've purchased supplies from Sheffield Pottery, this Architectural Clay is our first Sheffield Pottery clay purchase, and I'm looking forward to trying their Cone 6 porcelain as well, after we finish our Laguna 15 porcelain clay.