Ceramics by Mechanical Pots Chess Denman and Ben Anrep

Chess and Ben have been developing machinery and software to print pots. The Pots you see are the result of this, some are symmetrical whilst others take on an organic shape such as shell like.


Each piece is intricate and takes time to design, program, set up, and then print. The mechanical device that extrudes the clay has to handle high pressures and forces of about one tonne using a hydraulic ram and then extrude the clay in repeatable layers with a precision of less than a millimetre. Clays are pugged roughly to the consistency of Cornish clotted cream and are then extruded using a pumping system through a print head which is guided by our software. Getting everything to work and not to explode in a rather genteel but nonetheless catastrophic ooze of clay and metal can be a frustrating process. We relish both the technical and the artistic aspects of making ceramics in this way.


We have written a computer program that allows us to design and visualise our pots. The printed pieces are layered, controlling the appearance of each layer of clay makes this a feature rather than a flaw. The program applies a mathematical formula (a wave) to the pot and so changes its shape. This process may be repeated making a more complicated structure.


The pots are made from stoneware or porcelain clay. Oxidation or reduction firings are used to glaze and finish the work, whilst oxides and stains provide colour.


Neither of us are professional potters. Chess is a retired psychiatrist and Ben a retired software engineer. However both have a lifelong interest in ceramics and have been making pots for many years.