[Clayart] Wild kaolin

Antoinette Badenhorst via Clayart

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Sep 5, 2025, 2:49:17 PMSep 5

to clayart, Antoinette Badenhorst

Hi guys, does anyone know of unmined sources of kaolin in the Southeast of
the USA?
Edmund de Waal mentioned it in his book "The White Road" about a pile of
kaolin that were shipped to England a century or 2 ago. I think it was from
somewhere in North Carolina.

During my recent visit to Slovenia I had the opportunity to develop several
different porcelain bodies from local kaolin, bentonite and even feldspar.
Nothing was scientifically done, but good enough to withstand 1300 C in a
wood firing kiln. I had small saucers with samples fired to ^6 in an
electric kiln to go by.

I also had a chance to develop porcelains from Meissen Kaolin and a few
other European kaolins.
I would love to find a few to play around with here in the States too.
Maybe there are sources of Halloysite available too.

I found the feldspar in Slovenia interesting. It was very plastic and green
in color. Unfortunately I could only get an analysis of the mined and known
materials, but the plasticity of the feldspar indicates high clay content.
In hindsight I wish that I fired something with just the feldspar to see if
it would withstand heat and what color it would fire to by itself.

Best wishes,

Antoinette Badenhorst

*PorcelainByAntoinette <https://www.porcelainbyantoinette.com/#/>*

*TeachinArt* <https://www.teachinart.com/antoinette-badenhorst.html>

*International Academy of Ceramics*
<https://www.aic-iac.org/en/member/antoinette-badenhorst/>

*Mississippi Arts Commission
<https://arts.ms.gov/artist/antoinette-badenhorst/>*

*MSClayworks <https://www.msclayworks.com/#/>*
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Cara De Celles via Clayart

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Sep 5, 2025, 6:11:46 PMSep 5

to clayart, Cara De Celles

There are quite a few areas in and around Sandersville, Georgia. I went to school there for a couple of years when my parents moved there, and used to haunt the lakes that mining left.
English China Clay (ECC) was one of a few working concerns but I think they're all closed now. I used to pick up the kaolin as well as fairly pure nuggets of cobalt and cadmium.

Best wishes,

Antoinette Badenhorst

*PorcelainByAntoinette <https://www.porcelainbyantoinette.com/#/>*

*TeachinArt* <https://www.teachinart.com/antoinette-badenhorst.html>

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William Schran via Clayart

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Sep 5, 2025, 6:11:52 PMSep 5

to Clayart international pottery discussion forum, porcelainb...@gmail.com, William Schran

Here's some reading about kaolin in NC:
https://smokymountainnews.com/archives/item/2128-region%E2%80%99s-kaolin-history-is-nearly-forgotten
https://www.dncr.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2023/07/12/americans-first-kaolin-clay-cherokee-wedgwood-connection
https://gusherknob.com/project-resource-2/
https://digital.ncdcr.gov/Documents/Detail/residual-kaolin-deposits-of-the-spruce-pine-district-north-carolina/4320296
https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/10436

William Schran...@twc.com703-505-1617

-----------------------------------------From: "Antoinette Badenhorst
via Clayart"
To: "clayart"
Cc: "Antoinette Badenhorst"
Sent: Friday September 5 2025 2:49:16PM
Subject: [Clayart] Wild kaolin

Best wishes,

Antoinette Badenhorst

*PorcelainByAntoinette *
/>
*TeachinArt*
/>
*International Academy of Ceramics*

/>
*Mississippi Arts Commission
*
/>
*MSClayworks *
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Antoinette Badenhorst via Clayart

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Sep 7, 2025, 1:16:26 PMSep 7

to clayart, Antoinette Badenhorst

Thank you Cara. A quick search took me to Sandersville.org. It is
interesting to follow the AI trail. I thought EPK was from Georgia, but I
see it was from Florida.
Best wishes,

Antoinette Badenhorst
www.porcelainbyantoinette.com
www.teachinart.com
MSClayworks.com
arts.ms.gov/artist/antoinette-badenhorst
www.aic-iac.org/en/member/antoinette-badenhorst

URL: <https://lists.clayartforum.com/pipermail/clayart/attachments/20250907/0c2ecb18/attachment.htm>

Antoinette Badenhorst via Clayart

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Sep 7, 2025, 1:16:31 PMSep 7

to William Schran, Antoinette Badenhorst, Clayart international pottery discussion forum

Whao, thanks Bill. This is a wealth of information. I wonder if the one
about American’s First Kaolin Clay may be the one mentioned in The White
road.
Have you worked with any of the local porcelains since you moved to NC? I
would love to try out some.
I hope you enjoy your retirement!

Best wishes,
Antoinette Badenhorst
www.porcelainbyantoinette.com
www.teachinart.com
MSClayworks.com
arts.ms.gov/artist/antoinette-badenhorst
www.aic-iac.org/en/member/antoinette-badenhorst

On Fri, Sep 5, 2025 at 5:06 PM William Schran <wsc...@twc.com> wrote:

> Here's some reading about kaolin in NC:
>
>
> https://smokymountainnews.com/archives/item/2128-region%E2%80%99s-kaolin-history-is-nearly-forgotten
>
>
> https://www.dncr.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2023/07/12/americans-first-kaolin-clay-cherokee-wedgwood-connection
>
> https://gusherknob.com/project-resource-2/
>
>
> https://digital.ncdcr.gov/Documents/Detail/residual-kaolin-deposits-of-the-spruce-pine-district-north-carolina/4320296
>
> https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/10436
>
> William Schran