What Is The Art Of Making Pottery Called?

Pottery refers to objects made from clay that have been fashioned into a desireable shape, dried, and either fired in a kiln or allowed to dry in the sun. Pottery is one of the oldest human inventions, dating back thousands of years, with artifacts found in ancient sites across the world. The oldest known pottery vessels, dating to 20,000 BC, were discovered in Xianrendong Cave in China. Over the centuries, pottery techniques and styles evolved across cultures, making use of locally available materials. Today, pottery remains a popular art form and craft around the world.

The Name of the Craft

The craft of making pottery is most commonly referred to as either ceramics or pottery. According to What is the process of making pottery called?, the term “ceramics” can refer broadly to any items made from clay that are fired in a kiln. This includes pottery, as well as other clay objects like figurines and tiles. The term “pottery” more specifically refers to functional clay vessels like bowls, mugs, and vases. However, the two terms are often used interchangeably. While there are some nuances between ceramics and pottery, both terms refer to the age-old craft of shaping and firing clay.

Origins

The history of pottery making dates back over 20,000 years. Archaeological evidence shows that pottery was being made in East Asia and the Near East during the Upper Paleolithic period. According to A Look Back at the Fascinating History of Pottery, some of the earliest known pottery vessels have been found in Japan and date back to around 16,500 BCE. Pottery making independently developed in many cultures and civilizations across the world due to the accessibility and workability of clay.

Some of the earliest pottery was made from clay and fired at low temperatures in open fires or pit kilns. As early as 6,000 BCE, kilns capable of reaching temperatures of 900°C were developed in the Near East. Glazing techniques were beginning to be developed around 2,000 BCE in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. The potter’s wheel was also invented during this time, revolutionizing how pottery shapes could be formed.

In ancient China, pottery production began during the Neolithic period around 9,000 BCE according to The Evolution of Pottery From Ancient Times to Modern Day. Chinese potters innovated many new techniques and created beautiful porcelain wares prized around the world. The Jōmon culture in Japan produced unique pottery between 14,500 and 300 BCE featuring rope-patterned surfaces.

The ancient Greeks and Romans produced an abundance of pottery for both artistic and practical uses. Distinctive red and black figure pottery was prevalent during these periods. Through trade and conquest, pottery spread across Europe and into the Islamic world during the medieval period. By the 18th century, European porcelain and earthenware manufacturing had become highly advanced and influential around the globe.

Clay

The main types of clay used for pottery are earthenware, stoneware, porcelain, ball clay, and fire clay. Each type of clay has different properties that make it suitable for certain projects and firing methods.

Earthenware is a soft clay that can be fired at lower temperatures, from 1000°F to 1200°F. It’s porous and permeable to liquids. Common types of earthenware clays include red and brown varieties. Earthenware is good for hand-built pottery and decorative pieces (Source).

Stoneware is dense, hard clay that becomes vitrified and waterproof at higher firing temperatures between 2200°F and 2400°F. It’s a very strong clay often used for utilitarian pottery, pipes, and architectural items. Stoneware clay is easily thrown on the wheel (Source).

Porcelain is a fine white clay that fires at very high temperatures, between 2200°F and 2400°F. It becomes glass-like, translucent, and extremely hard. Porcelain is known for its whiteness and strength. It’s often used for sculptures, tableware, and electrical insulators (Source).

Ball clay is very plastic but sticky and hard to work on its own. It’s often combined with other clays to improve workability. Ball clay adds plasticity and strength when thrown on the wheel or hand-built.

Fire clay can withstand extremely high temperatures beyond other clays, up to 3000°F. It’s refractory and often used to make kiln bricks and ceramic fiber insulation.

Wheel Throwing

Wheel throwing is the process of using a potter’s wheel to form ceramic objects out of clay. The clay is centered on the wheel head and then pulled up and shaped using the hands as the wheel spins continuously. This technique allows potters to create symmetrical ceramic wares with thin walls and elegant curved surfaces.

To begin wheel throwing, an appropriate amount of clay is centered on the wheel head, meaning it is pressed into a cone shape and adjusted until the clay is perfectly centered. The wheel is then started to spin slowly. Using wet hands, the potter opens up the clay into a hollow form by pushing thumbs into the top of the cone while supporting the outside with fingers. Once the desired height and width is achieved, the potter uses fingers and various tools to refine the shape, smooth the walls, and add decorative elements if desired. The rotation of the wheel head allows for consistency in pulling walls and shaping curves.

Mastering wheel throwing requires an understanding of the properties of clay as well as refinement of technique over many hours of practice. Factors like speed of the wheel, amount of moisture in the clay, and the skill of using fingers, hands, and tools to manipulate the form all contribute to successful wheel-thrown wares. The technique allows for aesthetic experimentation and uniformity not easily achieved through handbuilding methods.

According to this pottery workshop in Switzerland, mastering the skill of centering large volumes of clay is crucial for properly executing wheel throwing technique.

Handbuilding

Handbuilding is one of the key techniques in working with clay. There are several methods of handbuilding that allow you to create pottery without the use of a pottery wheel. The most common handbuilding methods are pinching, coiling, and slab building.

Pinching is one of the most basic and ancient techniques for forming clay. It involves pressing clay between your thumb and fingers to create simple forms like bowls, cups, and vases. Pinch pots can then be joined together using the coil method. This video provides a good overview of different ways to pinch clay: https://www.thecrucible.org/guides/ceramics/handbuilding/

Coil building involves rolling out clay into long ropes or coils, then stacking the coils on top of each other to build up walls of a pot. The coils can be smoothed together using a variety of tools and techniques. Coiling allows you to produce larger, taller pieces than pinching alone. Here is more information on the coiling process: https://www.soulceramics.com/pages/handbuilding-pottery

Slab building entails rolling out flat, even slabs of clay that can be cut into shapes and joined to form complex forms. The slabs are often reinforced with coils on the interior or exterior. Slab construction is commonly used for sculptural work, tiles, decorative plates, and trays. This studio provides an overview of working with slabs: https://www.kraftyshed.co.uk/handbuilding-with-clay

No matter the technique, handbuilding allows for creativity and direct contact with the clay. It’s an accessible way to start working with ceramics and create finished pieces without a potter’s wheel.

Glazes

Glazes are vitreous coatings applied to ceramic wares to color, decorate, strengthen, and waterproof them. Glazes are made from mixtures of minerals that melt at high temperatures to form a glassy coating. The composition and thickness of the glaze determines the color, texture, and look of the finished piece.

There are many techniques for applying glazes. Potters can dip wares into buckets or pour glaze over them. Brushing glaze on gives more control for decoration. Spraying glaze through an airbrush allows for subtle effects. Glazes can also be screen printed for precise patterns. Raku and naked raku techniques involve removing pots from the kiln while red hot and placing them in combustible materials to create unique crackled surfaces.

Glazes are formulated from minerals like silica, alumina, and fluxes. Different minerals and metal oxide colorants produce the incredible variety of glaze colors like blues, greens, reds, oranges, purples, and browns. Glaze recipes allow potters to recreate effects and colors. The way the glaze melts in the kiln affects the final surface – smooth, glossy, matte, crystalline, or cracked. Firing temperature determines glaze chemistry. Glazes must mature at the kiln’s temperature to become vitreous.

From Ceramic Glazing Techniques

Kilns

Kilns are an essential part of the pottery making process, as they allow potters to permanently harden their clay creations through firing. The firing process exposes the clay to high temperatures, causing chemical changes that vitrify and strengthen the clay. There are several types of kilns used in pottery:

Electric kilns are the most common type used by potters today. They provide a consistent heat source by using heating elements that allow the potter to control the temperature inside the kiln chamber. Top loading electric kilns allow easy access and visibility of wares during firing. Front loading electric kilns take up less space but can make loading and unloading more difficult.

Gas kilns use propane or natural gas as the heat source. They allow potters to achieve effects like wood firing as the flames flow around the ware. However, they can be more difficult to control the temperature in and require ventilation. Downdraft gas kilns are considered very energy efficient designs (Higher Fire Studios).

Wood fired kilns use wood as the fuel source. The ash from the wood affects the surface of pots creating unique effects. However, wood firing requires continual stoking of the fire during firing. Anagama kilns are a traditional Japanese design for wood firing.

The firing process typically follows a schedule of raising the temperature gradually to a peak temperature (often around 2200°F or 1200°C) before cooling. Careful control over the firing schedule and temperature is necessary to achieve the desired results in the clay work.

Notable Potters

Ceramics as an art form has a long and storied history, with potters practicing their craft for thousands of years across many cultures worldwide. Over time, exceptional ceramic artists have emerged, exploring new techniques and aesthetic sensibilities that have advanced and shaped the field. Here we highlight some of the most famous and influential potters throughout history.

One of the most renowned figures is Bernard Leach (1887-1979), considered the “Father of British studio pottery.” Leach studied pottery in China and Japan, integrating Eastern and Western styles in his work. He established the iconic Leach Pottery in St Ives, England, which became a hub for potters during the 20th century. Leach emphasized simplicity and functionality in forms like vases, bowls, and plates. His A Potter’s Book is a seminal text advocating handcrafted pottery (source).

No overview of famous potters is complete without Lucie Rie (1902-1995), an Austrian-British ceramicist. Rie escaped Nazi occupation and resettled in London, where she pushed abstract, modernist aesthetics in her pottery. She became known for her lustrous glazes and signature bowl forms, showcased in museums worldwide. Along with Leach, she was central in elevating postwar British pottery (source).

These potters and many more have helped shape pottery from a functional craft into a respected global art form. Their innovative works inspire new generations of ceramic artists today.

Conclusion

The name of the art of making pottery is called ceramics. Ceramics is an ancient craft that involves working with clay and transforming it into beautiful and functional objects through processes like wheel throwing and handbuilding. Ceramic artists use techniques like glazing and firing in a kiln to finish their creations. While the origins of ceramics stretch back thousands of years, it remains a living art form today with many skilled potters around the world. From functional tableware to intricate sculptures, the creativity and artistry involved in ceramics is fascinating. Whether you are a professional potter, a hobbyist, or simply appreciate handmade pottery, understanding the fundamental techniques and processes of this craft provides a deeper appreciation of ceramics.