What is Pottery?

Pottery is made of clay that has been shaped into vessels and then heated. The firing process causes permanent chemical and physical changes to the clay. Firing usually involves a maximum temperature which is maintained for an extended period of time. It is during this period that the coarser particles of clay fuse together to make the material stronger.

In the past, pottery was used for cooking, storing, building, writing, worshipping, and even going to the bathroom! As civilization has progressed, people have relied on pottery to improve their lives. That isn’t likely to change any time soon!

The first pottery was made by humans by hand, but as civilization evolved, so did the use of pottery. Early pottery was often a vessel to transport water and food, but once the ability to preserve clay was discovered, pottery quickly became a staple of life in most cultures.

As pottery evolved, a potter would create a design by cutting into the surface of the clay or adding pigments to it. Eventually a potter would use the wheel to help them shape their designs. This method of making pottery is called throwing, a process that requires skill and experience.

Some of the earliest examples of pottery making are found in Europe. They are small and unglazed, but they demonstrate the development of pottery techniques and designs.