The Process of Making Pottery

Pottery is one of the oldest and most durable forms of art. Pottery fragments are often found during archeological excavations in a variety of time periods and civilizations throughout the world. During the Neolithic, people began to discover that clay could be made into shapes and then heated which transformed it into something much more durable than the grasses and roots that were previously used as containers for water. It allowed them to store and prepare food more easily and helped to improve their living conditions.

The process of making pottery involves a lot of preparations before the actual crafting of the item can begin. First, the clay must be de-aired which can be done either with a machine such as a pugmill or by hand through a process called wedging. After the clay is de-aired it must be thoroughly kneaded which allows for all of the moisture to be evenly distributed. Once the clay is ready to be crafted it can be shaped in many ways such as hand-building or on a pottery wheel. After the piece is shaped it must be dry which takes a long time since electrical kilns cannot handle too much moisture.

Once the ware is completely dried, it can be decorated with an underglaze or glaze which can be applied using many different techniques such as spraying, painting on, dipping and pouring. Depending on how the glaze is applied it can create an array of textures, colors and designs. It is also possible to add gold and silver leaf to the glaze to produce a more elaborate finish known as Terra Sigillata. In ancient times pottery was often endowed with religious and spiritual associations. Pots such as urns, jars and bottles were used for fertility rites, to celebrate the deflowering of young girls, as ritual libation vessels and in burial ceremonies.

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