The Basics of Pottery

Pottery can range from utilitarian to decorative pieces that bring life and color into a room. Typically, pottery is made of clay that has been formed by hand or molded without mechanical aids. It is then fired, which transforms the liquid clay into a hard, brittle and nearly indestructible material. Clay can be decorated or coated with different colors and textures to achieve unique, one-of-a-kind pieces.

The most basic method of creating pottery is called hand-building, in which the clay is formed into wares by wrapping coils of clay, combining flat slabs or pinching solid balls together. This is a time-consuming process that is conducive to making one-of-a-kind pottery pieces. Other forms of pottery include wheel-throwing, in which a ball of clay is centered on a rotating wheel and then pushed, pulled and shaped to form a hollow vessel. This requires a great deal of skill and experience to achieve success.

Once the clay is molded or sculpted into a desired shape, it must dry to “bone-dry,” a term which refers to a moisture content of about 0%. Once the clay is bone-dry it can be decorated or coated in a glaze. Glazes can be glossy, satin or matte, and may contain speckles or dual glazes to add interest to a piece.

Pottery can be sold individually or in sets, depending on the type of ware and the intended audience. For example, dinner plates are sold in sets of four to eight to accommodate families and large parties, but single plate sales can also be lucrative.