Black Clay

The black clay we use at Malki is a fine clay which is stained black thanks to an evenly distributed black pigment.

The very fine particles of this clay make it a superior clay that is safe for use in functional ware (dishes) as well as in jewellery (or “jewellery ware” as we like to call it).

This also accounts for the clay’s smooth finished surface, which can be further enhanced by the maker’s fingers or agate stones—as it is still done today by specialised Barro Negro pottery villages in Mexico and Columbia.

The practice of burnishing (polishing) the clay surface has been used by many ancient civilizations as a way of compressing the clay surface and waterproofing it for storage purposes, but the polished black clay is equally beautiful in jewellery.

The black clay used in Barro Negro pottery villages is sourced locally, fired to around 800 degrees Celsius, and followed-up with the process of black smoking to deepen the colour.

The beautiful, deep, smooth, and sensual black clay we use at Malki is lovingly showcased in our jewellery for its all its wonderful qualities. We achieve the depth of colour, sheen and the satin finish as a result of a long firing to 1220 - 1240 degrees Celsius, a process we think is totally worth it!

Black clay is a dominant material in our Basalt Collection, click here to learn more about it.