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Martin Eriksen Bergum

@studiomano__

324.5K

followers

149

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Oslo-based potter.
Terracotta and local clays.
Alternative firing processes.
Burnishing.

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I never imagined 200,000 people would one day follow something that began as a way to get through my days.

Clay entered my life during a time when my body was breaking, healing, and breaking again. Three surgeries behind me. Two still ahead. Everything slowed — including me.

I don’t have a studio. I work from home. I work in small windows of energy. I work through pain, rest, patience, and quiet hope.

I was educated in marketing and communication, but life redirected me into something I never planned: making with my hands as a way of staying alive in my body.

I haven’t sold anything yet. Not because I don’t want to — but because this season has been about healing, learning, and allowing things to take their time.

One day, I will sell. My apartment is already full of pottery waiting for that moment.

For now, thank you for walking this slow road with me.
Thank you for 200,000 🤎 taken in Oslo, Norway by @studiomano__

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10 months ago

A small selection of burnished terracotta vessels, displayed at home. Hand-built in a traditional “puki” using slabs and coils.
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#burnishing #bruñido #pottery taken in Oslo, Norway by @studiomano__

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2 years ago

Morning light filling the studio✨
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#handbuiltpottery #keramikk #1000vases #pottery #primitivepottery #ceramica #handbuildingwithclay taken in Oslo, Norway by @studiomano__

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3 years ago

I think I’ve reached the point where I can’t look at a smooth object without wondering if I could use it to polish clay. Haha.

Some of my favorite tools are things I’ve found around the house, and others are little treasures I’ve collected along the way.

#burnishing #potterytools taken in Oslo, Norway by @studiomano__

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10 days ago

A little look into how this vessel came together — from the first coils to the final burnish. I love taking my time with these pieces, and it’s always special to see how the clay changes at each step.
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#pottery
#burnishing
#noglaze taken in Oslo, Norway by @studiomano__

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10 months ago

I’ve been keeping my forms quite small lately. They just feel more manageable for me. Even with something this small, I still need to take lots of breaks because I can’t sit for too long without pain.

And burnishing is definitely not a quick process either…

So this little tulip vessel has been happening in lots of small moments. A bit of burnishing here, a break there, and slowly it’s coming together.

#pottery #ceramics #handbuiltpottery #burnishing #potteryprocess taken in Oslo, Norway by @studiomano__

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2 months ago

Coil-built terracotta vessel, burnished at leather hard and soaked in tea leaves for surface variation.
There was a chip during burnishing — instead of repairing it invisibly, I worked it into the form as a scar. That’s part of working with clay: things happen and you adapt 🤎 taken in Oslo, Norway by @studiomano__

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a year ago

Finishing up the burnishing on this one today. Nothing particularly exciting happening over here, just slowly working my way around until I’m happy with it. Well… happy enough 😅 I could probably keep going forever finding little areas to work on. Knowing when to stop is half the struggle haha.

#burnishing #bruñido by @studiomano__

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2 months ago

Fresh from the kiln today! A burnished terracotta vessel — no glaze, naturally waterproof, and sealed with Swedish organic beeswax. Posting some videos of the process as well. Hope you like it🤎
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#pottery #burnishing #noglaze taken in Oslo, Norway by @studiomano__

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a year ago

I get asked quite a lot if I burnish the inside of my pots, and yes, I do! It can be a bit of a struggle though, especially when the neck is narrow and you just can’t get your hand in there.

So… marbles. I bought a whole bunch of vintage marbles, pop a handful inside the pot and just spin them around. They get into all those awkward little places that I can’t reach and honestly, it works so well.

A slightly random pottery trick, but a very useful one! by @studiomano__

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2 months ago

I’ve been told a few times that my work looks and feels a bit like leather, and I think that’s pretty spot on. Especially seeing this little piece sitting on a leather stool. There’s something so similar about the surface and the warmth of it.

And just like leather, it changes with use. It gets marks, deepens in places, develops a patina. I really like that it doesn’t stay exactly as it was when it left my hands, but keeps changing with whoever uses it. by @studiomano__

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2 months ago

Burnishing this little vase I handbuilt in a traditional puki, using slabs and coils. I left it overnight to firm up a bit, then came back to it at leather hard and slowly burnished the whole thing by hand.

I haven’t been making much lately. I feel pretty defeated these days, if I’m honest, and even getting myself to sit down and make something feels like a lot.

So there’s no big inspiring ending here 😅 I’m just trying to keep my hands moving when I can.

#pottery #handmade by @studiomano__

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a month ago