Jonathan Castro Designs

Our Vessels are handcrafted and carefully designed in Manhattan by Ceramist Jonathan Castro.  .

Jonathan Castro originally from Chicago IL. of Puerto Rican descent, studied the art of Ceramics & Photography at Iowa State University. The NYC-based artist describes his influence in ceramic mainly been Japanese styled pottery, from a functional standpoint.

For Maison Cofresí Jonathan designed a minimalistic and bold vessel combining different clays.

  • Wedging

    The process of compressing the clay to get out any air bubbles. 

  • Throwing

    The process of turning a ball of clay into an intended shape. Using throwing technique to open, raise, and shape a form to a shape. (Measuring and using same weight of clay to create consistency, when creating close to identical forms)

  • Trimming

    Once a thrown form has reached a “leather hard” firm state, you trim away the excess weight using trimming tools. **This same step is when you also use the custom made stamps on the bottom of the pieces. 

  • Embossing

    We carefully emboss our vessels by hand, each piece is stamped with its name.

  • Glazing

    When a trimmed piece has fully dried out and has gone through the first stage of a two stage firing process, called a Bisque Fire. Once bisque is fired, the piece can absorb liquid glaze. Glaze is essentially colored glass in the end. 

  • Glaze Firing

    The final step in the process. Once the liquid glaze has been applied, the final firing stage will turn the glaze into glass when proper temperatures have been reached. Both the clay and glaze will then have reached full maturity and will be ready for functional use.