Quality
Quality is one of the four fundamental pillars that make up the soul of Sargadelos, and we meticulously pursue it in every phase of the production of our products.
Each piece of porcelain is designed, composed, molded, dried, decorated, and fired following a process that guarantees unbeatable quality, controlled from its origin, design, production, packaging, and destination.
Origin
As with any artistic or creative process, it all begins with a good idea, and the starting point is just as important as the goal. In our design studio, we draw, sculpt, model, but above all, we imagine products with soul, worthy of Sargadelos' long history and tradition, yet radically avant-garde and contemporary, transcending the
aesthetic value.
Occasionally, we also collaborate with national and international designers and artists, reinforcing
our commitment to art and the avant-garde, while regenerating our own approach and style.
Model
Once the design phase is complete, our artisans painstakingly hand-carve a plaster prototype using tools such as gouges and knives.
The technique must be precise, as any imperfection in the model could compromise the final result of a whole series of pieces.
First mold
In porcelain manufacturing, the creation of the master mold, the mother of all molds used in production, cannot be overestimated.
Starting from a resin model extracted from the prototype using a lost mold, our experts create the plaster-based matrix. It's a laborious and complex process, and many unforeseen events can occur, forcing them to start over.
Second mold
Due to the abrasion of the porcelain paste, the production molds wear out during the process and are only used about 80 times. Therefore, our technicians constantly renew them to ensure maximum quality in each production cycle.
Reproduction or manufacture
Once we have the mold, we can begin the production process. The first step is to have quality raw materials, and ours are kaolin, feldspar, quartz, water, color pigments, varnish, and fire.
At Sargadelos, we rigorously select our starting materials, supporting and regenerating the local economic cycle. After rigorous quality control, we discard any impurities, defects, or anomalies that could affect the final product.
Manufacturing by calibration
Once we've selected the best of the best, we blend the raw materials in our mills to create the pastes that will serve as the base for shaping our products. The milling technique varies depending on the type of paste desired. Sizing results in more flexible pastes, ideal for making cups, plates, or serving dishes. These are pressed to remove excess water and extruded into cylinders of different sizes, depending on the product.
Casting produces pastes with varying densities, the slip, with a liquid texture ideal for pouring into plaster molds and applying them according to the piece to be made. Sizing is the technique of modeling geometrically generated pieces on mechanical lathes on which the paste is placed. The front of the piece is obtained by pressing it onto the plaster mold, while the back is shaped by the lathe itself.
MANUFACTURING BY CASTING 1
In this first stage of casting, the fluid slip is carefully poured into the plaster molds. The plaster absorbs the water, depositing a uniform layer that defines the shape of the piece. After a controlled time, the excess is poured off and the piece begins to solidify, ready for partial demolding.
The liquid porcelain adheres to the walls of the mold, creating a shell whose thickness varies over time. The excess slip is poured off and left to air dry until it reaches a consistency sufficient to be removed from the mold.
MANUFACTURING BY CASTING 2
Next, the edges and details are reinforced, ensuring the porcelain layer reaches the proper thickness and maintains a smooth, uniform surface. Time and temperature control are essential at this stage to prevent warping or cracking.
MANUFACTURING BY CASTING 3
Once the piece has solidified, it is carefully removed from the mold. The still-wet and fragile piece is carefully removed to preserve the details and avoid damage. This step requires expert hands and absolute delicacy.
MANUFACTURING BY CARVING
After casting, some pieces require additional refinement. Hand carving allows contours to be polished, imperfections to be rectified, and sculptural details to be added with specific tools. This work enhances the definition, providing elegance and an irreplaceable artisanal character.
Drying
Once molded, the pieces are stored in drying chambers. Here, the water contained in the porcelain paste slowly evaporates, compacting and solidifying the piece.
Complete temperature control is essential: the room must remain at a stable temperature and humidity to reduce the risk of cracking.
Review
In this phase, each piece is manually inspected and corrected. Surface imperfections are removed, edges are sanded, and details are adjusted to ensure that each object meets Sargadelos' standards of texture, shape, and finish.
Sponge cake
Once dry, the pieces are carefully placed in a structure known as a "wagon" and, in a fitting process to optimize heat, reminiscent of an impossible puzzle, are then placed in a high-temperature oven, where they are subjected to the biscuit-firing technique.
The word comes from the English word "biscuit," referring to the baking process. A fitting analogy for our processes, as we treat each item with the same care, attention, and talent required by the culinary arts.
Color
Each piece is hand-painted using stencils pre-cut by our technicians, one by one. The designs, created by our artistic team, follow traditional patterns inspired by Celtic and Atlantic culture, always adapting them to our iconic avant-garde style that is our signature.
Subsequently, once dry, the pieces are stored in a very characteristic way in wagons, depending on the type of kiln, trying to save as much space as possible to subject them to the firing process.
Not every detail can be achieved with stencils. Our specialists' brushes finish the job, adding, retouching, and drawing, achieving that level of perfection, care, and natural finish that industrial processes can't achieve.
Delicate pieces, special editions, and the most intricate details are painted exclusively by hand, without the use of stencils. A meticulous but necessary process in our pursuit of excellence.
Decoration 1
On the porcelain biscuit, we apply one of the most artistic aspects of our brand: the decoration, which is applied, depending on the color, under and over the top, that is, before and after the piece is glazed.
Each piece is hand-painted using stencils previously cut by our technicians, one by one.
Decoration 2
The designs, created by our artistic team, follow traditional patterns inspired by Celtic and Atlantic culture, always adapting them to our iconic avant-garde style, which is our hallmark. Not all details can be achieved with stencils.
Our specialists' brushes finish the job, adding, retouching, and drawing, achieving that level of perfection, care, and natural finish that industrial processes cannot achieve.
Decoration 3
Delicate pieces, special editions, and the most intricate details are painted exclusively by hand, without the use of stencils. A meticulous but necessary process in our pursuit of excellence.
Bathroom
After decoration, the pieces are coated with a vitreous coating that protects them and enhances their shine. This coating provides a uniform layer of crystallization that seals and embellishes the decoration, preparing the piece for final firing.
Cooking
Finally, the pieces undergo final firing in high-temperature kilns (around 1,800°C), where the glaze vitrifies, blending the colors and acquiring the hardness and luminosity characteristic of Sargadelos porcelain. The result is timeless, durable, and vibrant pieces.