A piece of clay undergoes several stages before
becoming a functional piece of pottery. First it must be
kneaded through a process called 'wedging'. Wedging
helps to warm up the clay and ensures that the clay does
not contain air bubbles. Trapped air may cause a pot to
crack or explode during the firing process.
After wedging the clay is
thrown onto the pottery
wheel and water is added.
Centering is the first step to
creating any form on the
wheel. It requires pressure to
be placed on the top and
sides of the clay.
The next step is to dig a hole
in the center of the clay by
pressing with thumbs or
fingers.
Once the hole is dug,
fingers are used to drag the
hole open. This step is
called opening.
Now the short, heavy pot
must be made taller and
the walls must be thinned.
This step is called 'pulling
up'. Fingers press from
both sides of the pot wall,
trapping small amounts of
clay and then dragging
slowing up the walls of the
pot.
Pulling up is done several
times until the excess clay
that sits at the bottom has
been incorporated into
the piece. In this photo
you can see the buldge of
clay that is being brought
up to the top of the pot as
the pot is made taller.
Once several pulls have
been made, the pot is
more fragile and the
wheel is slowed. Shaping
is the last step before the
pot is removed from the
wheel. The pot takes its
shape when a hand
placed inside carefully
presses the walls towards
a supporting hand.
Here you can see the
completed pot. A wire is
pulled under the pot to
remove it from the wheel.
This is the electric kiln
where all of our pots
are fired at Meiklem
Kiln Works!
