Interest in the traditional handmolded brick is reviving, not only because of activity in restoring historic brick structures but also because architects now favor the varied colors and textures of handmolded brick even for new buildings. Brick manufacturers are faced with the problem of adapting modern production facilities to make a brick that simulates the appearance and durability of the output of a handicraft. This can be difficult because the traditional soft mud process involved in handmolding requires raw materials, shaping techniques, and firing cycles that differ from the present day stiff mud continuous extrusion process. Much of the empirical knowledge and skill of the traditional brickmakers has been lost. However, advances in geochemical analytical methods can now make it possible to understand the details of the chemical and physical processes. The steps in the handmolded brickmaking process are described with the help of this information and contrasted with those involved in modern brickmaking. -- AATA