Begin.
He starts with a lump of white low-fire clay about the size of a coffee mug.
Professor Paul Mueller demonstrates the manufacture of a pinch pot. You will
see a series of still pictures which go from a lump of clay to a pot ready to be fired.
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Begin.
He starts with a lump of white low-fire clay about the size of a coffee mug.
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He opens a hole down the center that will become the interior of the pot.
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Rotating the pot about his thumb, he widens the hole while maintaining a relatively
smooth interior and exterior surface.
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The pot is formed from the inside and outside at the same time.
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The pot grown to its finished size but the walls are still fairly thick, perhaps
3/4 inches.
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The mouth of the pot is now pinched to form a shoulder...
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...and the bottom is sliced off to provide a flat base.
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A scraper is used to remove clay from the interior, providing thinner walls and
a smooth interior surface.
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The walls are now about 1/4-3/8 inch thick.
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Say aaaah!
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An ugly but functional pot holds water. Clay is added to the water to make a thin
soup called a slip. A sponge is used to coat the surfaces of the
pot, which provides a smooth surface.
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The walls are so thin that they must be supported from the inside.
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The mouth is formed to its final shape and trimmed with a knife.
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After drying for a day, a smooth stone is used to burnish the surface. This
provides a smooth, glossy, less porous finish.
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Here you can see the contrast between the burnished and unburnished finish.
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Ready for the kiln!
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