RESEARCH STARTER

Pottery

Pottery is a creative and functional art form that involves shaping and firing clay to produce a variety of objects, such as pots, bowls, and decorative items. Its origins can be traced back over 10,000 years, with significant advancements in techniques occurring in various cultures globally. The initial discovery of heat curing clay was made around 8000 BCE, which led to the development of more sophisticated practices, including the use of potter's wheels and stone ovens by 3000 BCE.

In ancient China, potters began experimenting with glazes around 1500 BCE, which enhanced the aesthetics and durability of pottery. The art of pottery evolved through distinct cultural expressions, such as Greek pottery featuring intricate designs that provide insights into ancient civilization. The introduction of porcelain in China during the Han Dynasty marked a significant advancement, influencing European pottery practices centuries later.

Although pottery's popularity diminished with the rise of industrial mass production, it has seen a resurgence as a hobby and craft in recent decades, supported by modern kiln technology. Contemporary trends include techniques like chemical and acid etching to create unique designs. Pottery remains a vibrant avenue for artistic expression, with many amateur potters finding success in both selling their works and teaching pottery techniques.

Full Article

History

Pottery is an art form that involves constructing and heat curing clay objects. Pottery was one of the earliest human technologies, and remains a thriving industry and a popular hobby today.

Archaeologists have uncovered pottery from the Middle East dating back more than 10,000 years. By 8000 BCE, the process of using heat to cure clay had been discovered, utilizing subterranean pits and wood fires.

By 3000 BCE, potters in the Middle East and Asia were using stone ovens to raise the temperature during the heat curing process. It had been discovered that clay cooked at higher temperatures becomes less porous and therefore water-resistant. At the same time, ancient potters were also using crude potter's wheels to produce clay pots, bowls and urns.


Potters in China began experimenting with glazes, substances applied to the inner and outer surfaces of pottery before heat curing, around 1500 BCE. Between 900 and 100 BCE, the glazing process was widely used by potters in China, Korea, Mesopotamia and Egypt.

Greek pottery developed into a unique art form during the fifth century BCE. Glazed pottery appeared in Greece around the first century BCE. Greek artisans created pottery with elaborate paintings and decorations, which have helped archaeologists to learn more about the culture and mythology of ancient Greece.

Chinese artisans pioneered the use of hybrid clays. During the Han Dynasty (206-220 BCE), the Chinese began produced porcelain using decomposed feldspar mixed with fine granite clay. The Chinese techniques for molding and heat curing porcelain were exported to Europe.

During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE), Chinese pottery techniques reached their zenith, with thousands of artisan potters creating elaborately-decorated artwork. Tang pottery was exported to Spain, Turkey, Lebanon, Japan and Korea, where it inspired a new generation of potters.

Japanese artisans began to develop a characteristic style during the thirteenth century CE, when pottery was integrated into social rituals. Japanese raku pottery, used in the construction of tea pots for social ceremonies, has remained a part of traditional Japanese culture in modern times.

In the fourteenth century, European craftsmen began to experiment with combinations of clay and metal and produced majolica, pottery with a tin glaze. Tin-glazed pottery spread throughout Europe and became a major export for Italy and Spain.

Interest in pottery waned following the Industrial Revolution, but artisans remained active in countries around the world. The introduction of mass-produced glass bowls and affordable plastics reduced the demand for pottery in industrialized nations.

Gas and electric kiln ovens were developed in the twentieth century, making it possible to cure pottery without the use of large fires or expensive coal fuel. The development of smaller kilns allowed individuals and small institutions to set up private pottery workshops, and pottery's popularity grew among semi-skilled craftspeople and hobbyists.

How to Get Started

The first thing a beginning potter must decide is the type of pottery he or she is interested in creating. Earthenware pottery is made from basic clays and fired at low temperatures. Earthenware products are porous and will therefore absorb moisture over time, which can eventually lead to leaking. Potters use glazes to seal and decorate earthenware products. Stoneware pottery is constructed from basic clays fired at high temperatures. High-temperature firing makes the clay less porous, making stoneware ideal for holding liquids. Porcelain pottery is made from extremely fine clay and is fired at high temperatures. Porcelain becomes glass-like after firing and is resistant to water.

Pottery instruction is available through colleges, universities, and private artistic organizations. Beginners may also seek individual instruction from professional artisans, or attempt to secure an apprenticeship at a pottery studio.

Amateur potters may also take advantage of the many books and instructional videos available on the art and craft of pottery. Educational materials are often arranged into specific techniques such as glazing, firing, earthenware, stoneware, or porcelain.

Equipment for heat curing pottery can be expensive; the novice potter might consider joining a pottery organization. Pottery groups often share the responsibility and cost of large equipment like kilns and pottery wheels, and are also an excellent place to meet and learn from other artisans.

Investment

Clay is available in a variety of forms and is typically sold by the pound. Basic clays generally cost less than $10 for a 25-pound block. Porcelain clays may cost around $15 for a 25-pound package. Many pottery supply companies also offer raw materials for making clay, which cost between $10 and $50.

Hand tools for molding and shaping clay generally cost between $5 and $30 per instrument, and are available at craft and hobby stores and through specialty vendors.

Glazes and texturing materials are available in pre-packaged form or as raw materials that require mixing prior to use. Pre-made glazes are usually sold by the ounce and will generally cost less than $10 for a two- to four-ounce container. Materials for making glazes may cost between $10 and $50.

Kiln ovens for heat curing clay are available in a variety of sizes and require gas, coal, or electricity for fuel. Kilns range from $200 to over $4,000.

Pottery tables and wheels come in a variety of sizes, and prices vary accordingly. Basic pottery wheels may cost between $50 and $300, while professional models often cost over $1,000.

Materials

The basic materials needed to create any pottery project include clay, glaze, a kiln, and a pottery wheel. There are several different types of clay used by potters. Most modeling clays are composed of decomposed granite with traces of other minerals, while porcelain contains decomposed feldspathic rock.

Earthenware is a basic type of clay that often contains large amounts of iron. Products made with earthenware clay will be more porous and will require glazing if they are meant to hold liquid. Stoneware clays are made to be fired at high temperatures and produce a smooth, water-resistant product. Many stoneware clays contain bits of rock or stone which contribute to the texture and color of the finished product.

Ball clay is extremely fine in texture and is usually formed in the presence of standing water. Ball clays are used as cements for joining clay pieces, and may be used to create smooth or finely grained objects. Kaolin is fine clay that is a major component in most porcelain; it is generally composed of decomposed feldspar or similar minerals. Porcelain is used to create smooth and glass-like pottery and comes in a variety of colors. Slip clay is a combination of water, clay, and other materials and is generally used to glaze or seal the joints in clay objects.

Glazes are generally a combination of water and a mineral coloring agent. Some glazes contain bits of rock or other material for texture. Certain glazes change color when exposed to temperature changes, and others vary in color based on the amount of oxygen available during firing. Common coloring minerals include copper, iron, sulfur, magnesium, cobalt, chromium, and manganese.

A kiln is an oven used for heat-curing pottery and ceramics. Kilns vary in sophistication and by the types of fuel (electricity, gas, or wood/coal) used to power them. The first kilns consisted of a stone or earthen chamber placed under or over a bed of burning wood or coal. Wood and coal kilns are not widely used by modern potters but remain common in rural communities.

Electric kilns use electric current to heat metal coils. Because these kilns do not produce flame, they are less efficient when it comes to controlling the level of oxygen inside the heating chamber. Many electric kilns feature computerized temperature control.

Gas kilns use propane or natural gas filtered through heating tubes. These kilns require a ventilation system and are ideal for creating environments that are low in oxygen. Some gas kilns allow the potter to control the heat level using remote controls.

The potter's wheel or potter's lathe rotates a clay object while the sculptor remains stationary, allowing work to be done on all sides of the object. A kick wheel relies on the potter to turn the rotating surface using his or her feet. Most kick wheels use a series of gears to translate pressure placed on a pedal to rotations of the work surface. Electric wheels use a motor to spin the rotating surface.

Chemical and acid etching is the process of using corrosive liquids to dissolve designs into the surface of glazed pottery, and has become popular among modern potters. Using acids of different concentrations, artists have learned to create unique decorative patterns. Because corrosive liquids can be dangerous, acid etching is best learned from a professional.

Trends in styles of pots and methods of decoration often change from year to year. For example, pottery trends in 2018 included carving designs into pots and painting pots with marbled designs that look like liquid.

Time

An advanced potter may require a few hours to create a piece, though additional time is required for the firing process and for polishing the finished item. Novices can spend days or weeks practicing on a single project before they are ready to use the kiln.

Pottery for Fun vs. Profit

Many amateur potters sell their crafts at art shows and galleries. Quality earthenware, stoneware and porcelain products can retail for hundreds of dollars, making pottery a lucrative activity when compared to the cost of materials.

Alternatively, potters may consider using their experience to teach pottery techniques at local art centers or educational institutions. Some educational organizations and universities may also hire experienced amateurs as workshop assistants.

Learning More

Books

Complete Ceramics: Easy Techniques and Over 20 Great Projects. Collins & Brown, 2016.

Cooper, Emmanuel. Ten Thousand Years of Pottery. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2000.

Young, Alistair. Setting Up a Pottery Workshop. A&C Black, 1999.

Birks, Tony. The Complete Potter's Companion. Bulfinch Press, 1998.

Fun Facts

Yagi Kazuo (1918-1980) has been credited as the father of modern Japanese ceramics. Kazuo created abstract fired sculptures that redefined the designs of traditional Japanese pottery.

W. David Kingery (1926-2000) is considered the originator of many modern pottery and ceramics techniques, including the application of electric and oxygen sensors to kiln dryers. Kingery wrote many textbooks on advanced ceramics techniques.

The red color in some pottery clays is caused by high concentrations of iron. Other types of clay come in grey, white, and black varieties based on the types of minerals found within them.



Full Article

History

Pottery is an art form that involves constructing and heat curing clay objects. Pottery was one of the earliest human technologies, and remains a thriving industry and a popular hobby today.

Archaeologists have uncovered pottery from the Middle East dating back more than 10,000 years. By 8000 BCE, the process of using heat to cure clay had been discovered, utilizing subterranean pits and wood fires.

By 3000 BCE, potters in the Middle East and Asia were using stone ovens to raise the temperature during the heat curing process. It had been discovered that clay cooked at higher temperatures becomes less porous and therefore water-resistant. At the same time, ancient potters were also using crude potter's wheels to produce clay pots, bowls and urns.


Potters in China began experimenting with glazes, substances applied to the inner and outer surfaces of pottery before heat curing, around 1500 BCE. Between 900 and 100 BCE, the glazing process was widely used by potters in China, Korea, Mesopotamia and Egypt.

Greek pottery developed into a unique art form during the fifth century BCE. Glazed pottery appeared in Greece around the first century BCE. Greek artisans created pottery with elaborate paintings and decorations, which have helped archaeologists to learn more about the culture and mythology of ancient Greece.

Chinese artisans pioneered the use of hybrid clays. During the Han Dynasty (206-220 BCE), the Chinese began produced porcelain using decomposed feldspar mixed with fine granite clay. The Chinese techniques for molding and heat curing porcelain were exported to Europe.

During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE), Chinese pottery techniques reached their zenith, with thousands of artisan potters creating elaborately-decorated artwork. Tang pottery was exported to Spain, Turkey, Lebanon, Japan and Korea, where it inspired a new generation of potters.

Japanese artisans began to develop a characteristic style during the thirteenth century CE, when pottery was integrated into social rituals. Japanese raku pottery, used in the construction of tea pots for social ceremonies, has remained a part of traditional Japanese culture in modern times.

In the fourteenth century, European craftsmen began to experiment with combinations of clay and metal and produced majolica, pottery with a tin glaze. Tin-glazed pottery spread throughout Europe and became a major export for Italy and Spain.

Interest in pottery waned following the Industrial Revolution, but artisans remained active in countries around the world. The introduction of mass-produced glass bowls and affordable plastics reduced the demand for pottery in industrialized nations.

Gas and electric kiln ovens were developed in the twentieth century, making it possible to cure pottery without the use of large fires or expensive coal fuel. The development of smaller kilns allowed individuals and small institutions to set up private pottery workshops, and pottery's popularity grew among semi-skilled craftspeople and hobbyists.

How to Get Started

The first thing a beginning potter must decide is the type of pottery he or she is interested in creating. Earthenware pottery is made from basic clays and fired at low temperatures. Earthenware products are porous and will therefore absorb moisture over time, which can eventually lead to leaking. Potters use glazes to seal and decorate earthenware products. Stoneware pottery is constructed from basic clays fired at high temperatures. High-temperature firing makes the clay less porous, making stoneware ideal for holding liquids. Porcelain pottery is made from extremely fine clay and is fired at high temperatures. Porcelain becomes glass-like after firing and is resistant to water.

Pottery instruction is available through colleges, universities, and private artistic organizations. Beginners may also seek individual instruction from professional artisans, or attempt to secure an apprenticeship at a pottery studio.

Amateur potters may also take advantage of the many books and instructional videos available on the art and craft of pottery. Educational materials are often arranged into specific techniques such as glazing, firing, earthenware, stoneware, or porcelain.

Equipment for heat curing pottery can be expensive; the novice potter might consider joining a pottery organization. Pottery groups often share the responsibility and cost of large equipment like kilns and pottery wheels, and are also an excellent place to meet and learn from other artisans.

Investment

Clay is available in a variety of forms and is typically sold by the pound. Basic clays generally cost less than $10 for a 25-pound block. Porcelain clays may cost around $15 for a 25-pound package. Many pottery supply companies also offer raw materials for making clay, which cost between $10 and $50.

Hand tools for molding and shaping clay generally cost between $5 and $30 per instrument, and are available at craft and hobby stores and through specialty vendors.

Glazes and texturing materials are available in pre-packaged form or as raw materials that require mixing prior to use. Pre-made glazes are usually sold by the ounce and will generally cost less than $10 for a two- to four-ounce container. Materials for making glazes may cost between $10 and $50.

Kiln ovens for heat curing clay are available in a variety of sizes and require gas, coal, or electricity for fuel. Kilns range from $200 to over $4,000.

Pottery tables and wheels come in a variety of sizes, and prices vary accordingly. Basic pottery wheels may cost between $50 and $300, while professional models often cost over $1,000.

Materials

The basic materials needed to create any pottery project include clay, glaze, a kiln, and a pottery wheel. There are several different types of clay used by potters. Most modeling clays are composed of decomposed granite with traces of other minerals, while porcelain contains decomposed feldspathic rock.

Earthenware is a basic type of clay that often contains large amounts of iron. Products made with earthenware clay will be more porous and will require glazing if they are meant to hold liquid. Stoneware clays are made to be fired at high temperatures and produce a smooth, water-resistant product. Many stoneware clays contain bits of rock or stone which contribute to the texture and color of the finished product.

Ball clay is extremely fine in texture and is usually formed in the presence of standing water. Ball clays are used as cements for joining clay pieces, and may be used to create smooth or finely grained objects. Kaolin is fine clay that is a major component in most porcelain; it is generally composed of decomposed feldspar or similar minerals. Porcelain is used to create smooth and glass-like pottery and comes in a variety of colors. Slip clay is a combination of water, clay, and other materials and is generally used to glaze or seal the joints in clay objects.

Glazes are generally a combination of water and a mineral coloring agent. Some glazes contain bits of rock or other material for texture. Certain glazes change color when exposed to temperature changes, and others vary in color based on the amount of oxygen available during firing. Common coloring minerals include copper, iron, sulfur, magnesium, cobalt, chromium, and manganese.

A kiln is an oven used for heat-curing pottery and ceramics. Kilns vary in sophistication and by the types of fuel (electricity, gas, or wood/coal) used to power them. The first kilns consisted of a stone or earthen chamber placed under or over a bed of burning wood or coal. Wood and coal kilns are not widely used by modern potters but remain common in rural communities.

Electric kilns use electric current to heat metal coils. Because these kilns do not produce flame, they are less efficient when it comes to controlling the level of oxygen inside the heating chamber. Many electric kilns feature computerized temperature control.

Gas kilns use propane or natural gas filtered through heating tubes. These kilns require a ventilation system and are ideal for creating environments that are low in oxygen. Some gas kilns allow the potter to control the heat level using remote controls.

The potter's wheel or potter's lathe rotates a clay object while the sculptor remains stationary, allowing work to be done on all sides of the object. A kick wheel relies on the potter to turn the rotating surface using his or her feet. Most kick wheels use a series of gears to translate pressure placed on a pedal to rotations of the work surface. Electric wheels use a motor to spin the rotating surface.

Chemical and acid etching is the process of using corrosive liquids to dissolve designs into the surface of glazed pottery, and has become popular among modern potters. Using acids of different concentrations, artists have learned to create unique decorative patterns. Because corrosive liquids can be dangerous, acid etching is best learned from a professional.

Trends in styles of pots and methods of decoration often change from year to year. For example, pottery trends in 2018 included carving designs into pots and painting pots with marbled designs that look like liquid.

Time

An advanced potter may require a few hours to create a piece, though additional time is required for the firing process and for polishing the finished item. Novices can spend days or weeks practicing on a single project before they are ready to use the kiln.

Pottery for Fun vs. Profit

Many amateur potters sell their crafts at art shows and galleries. Quality earthenware, stoneware and porcelain products can retail for hundreds of dollars, making pottery a lucrative activity when compared to the cost of materials.

Alternatively, potters may consider using their experience to teach pottery techniques at local art centers or educational institutions. Some educational organizations and universities may also hire experienced amateurs as workshop assistants.

Learning More

Books

Complete Ceramics: Easy Techniques and Over 20 Great Projects. Collins & Brown, 2016.

Cooper, Emmanuel. Ten Thousand Years of Pottery. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2000.

Young, Alistair. Setting Up a Pottery Workshop. A&C Black, 1999.

Birks, Tony. The Complete Potter's Companion. Bulfinch Press, 1998.

Fun Facts

Yagi Kazuo (1918-1980) has been credited as the father of modern Japanese ceramics. Kazuo created abstract fired sculptures that redefined the designs of traditional Japanese pottery.

W. David Kingery (1926-2000) is considered the originator of many modern pottery and ceramics techniques, including the application of electric and oxygen sensors to kiln dryers. Kingery wrote many textbooks on advanced ceramics techniques.

The red color in some pottery clays is caused by high concentrations of iron. Other types of clay come in grey, white, and black varieties based on the types of minerals found within them.



More Like ThisRelated Articles

Related Articles (5)

Related Articles (5)