Can Yeast Harden Clay?

Does Yeast Do Anything to Clay?

I have heard that you can add yeast to regular clay and that it will harden. Do you know if this is true?

LeRoi

I doubt it.

I asked my friend and ceramic artist, Paulette Gasser. She had never heard of this and couldn’t understand what the point would be.

Paulette is a very experienced potter who has lived and worked around the world: Switzerland, Canada, Mexico and Africa. In Mexico and Africa, she often had to find and dig her own clay. This is a woman who knows clay! I am proud to own quite a few of her pieces.

I think someone is pulling your leg. I found this thread on the Potters.org forum in response to someone who asked whether yeast could be added to clay to make it rise while firing.

Add yeast, put in a warm place for about a half hour. Punch it down and then make your form.

Actually, the closest thing I can think of is for you to use a clay body that matures earlier than what you firing to--i.e. low fire red in the wood kiln (add some grog) will actually move around and the shape will change. Not recommended but if you are feeling brave, a great place to test this would be in a raku kiln and then you could watch and pull before it turns into a puddle.

Tony Ferguson
Stoneware, Porcelain, Raku
www.aquariusartgallery.com

I gather Tony doesn’t think too much of the yeast idea either. If you find out we are wrong, please write again with details.