Resource 3: Making pots

Background information / subject knowledge for teacher

An example using a pottery wheel

Clay can be made into vessels because of its unique physical properties. The molecular structure of clay means it has a ‘plastic’ quality, allowing it to be shaped into an infinite variety of forms. Subject these forms to sufficient heat and they are altered into a rock-hard material, making them both functional and durable. Clay is composed of the most common elements found in the Earth’s crust and, as a result, is found throughout the world, beneath our feet. Clay was put to use by nearly every culture, often with extraordinary results. Pots can be made with bare hands using clay lubricated with water.

Centering the clay on the kick wheel

The potter, bearing down on the clay with their hands, then centres the clay. The fingers are used to first form the floor of the pot and then, to pull the walls of the clay up, typically into a cylindrical shape. Then the potter gently shapes the pot into the desired form, using the fingertips, as the wheel continues to spin.

Opening up the clay

Once fully formed, the pot is cut off the wheel head with a wire and removed. The process is then repeated with the next ball of clay.

Shaping the clay

When the work has dried to a leather-hard state, the pot can be trimmed. Handles are attached at this stage. Certain types of decoration can be added.

Once pots are bone dry, they can be bisque-fired in a kiln. This produces a hard yet porous vessel.

Pulling a handle for a mug

Each pot is dipped directly into a bucket of glaze that has been mixed to the consistency of heavy cream. The stoneware glazes consist of a number of naturally occurring minerals such as feldspar, silica, whiting (limestone) and clay. Iron oxide is added in various amounts for colour.

Detail from stoneware bowl

Once the kiln is fully loaded, the door is bricked shut. The firing process takes 18 hours. The pots are gradually heated until they reach 1,250 °C, which is white heat. At several points during the firing, the kiln is starved of oxygen. This reduction atmosphere causes oxygen to be removed from the clay and the glazes. This process of reduction and reoxidation of the pots results in rich, earth-toned glazes.

An example using pinch pot construction

With pinching gestures, you can mould clay into objects such as animals or make a bowl, a pot, a cup etc. While this form of pottery seems basic, you can get a feel for the clay you are working with and you will get to know the limits of your clay. (Does it bend easily? Does it dry fast? etc.)

To make a bowl, a pot or a cup, begin with a ball of clay. Push your thumb into the centre. Then pinch up the walls.

Turn the piece as you pinch. This will help you to keep an even thickness in the walls of the piece.

Gently pat the bottom on a flat surface to create a flat spot on the bottom of the piece.

Example of traditional pot – an African bracelet bowl

This bowl is traditionally used for storing bracelets.

Adapted from: http://www.hobokenpottery.com [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] , http://www.jhpottery.com and http://www.jhpottery.com/ tutorial/ pinch.htm (Accessed 2008)

The series of pictures below show pottery being made in Mpraeso, Ghana, three hours northwest of Accra.

A potter at work. Pottery, like nearly every village activity, takes place outdoors in the communal yard, preferably in a patch of shade.

Akua Manu makes some adjustments to Ellie’s bowl.

With African wheels, the pot stays still while the potter gets her exercise moving, often at a run, around it as she works. The pot rests on a board placed on top of a column of rocks built up to a comfortable height.

Pit firing under the banana trees at Mpraeso. Pots are placed in a circle with fuel around them. For the typical black reduction effect, potters smother the flames with organic materials producing this cloud of smoke.

A young Ghanaian sculptor concentrates on getting the details just right.

Resource 2: Assessment sheet for research presentations

Acknowledgements