What Are Coil Pots Used For?

What Are Coil Pots?

Coil pots are a form of handbuilt pottery made from coils or rolls of clay (Merriam-Webster). To construct a coil pot, a potter starts with a base and then builds up the sides by joining successive coils of clay. Coil pots are made entirely by hand without the use of a pottery wheel.

The clay used for coil pots is typically an earthenware or stoneware clay body that has been wedged or kneaded to remove air bubbles and make it soft and pliable. Smooth clay that has “plasticity” works best for coiling. Once shaped, coil pots are left to dry slowly, then fired in a kiln to harden them.

The basic process involves first shaping a flat base from a ball or slab of clay. Next, the potter rolls out clay coils, usually with a thickness around 1/4″-1/2″. The coils are applied around the base, then joined together by smoothing, bonding, and blending the seams (Wheel and Clay). More coils are added upwards to build the desired height of the pot walls.

History of Coil Pottery

The ancient history of coil built pottery has its origins in Central and South America, Africa, and Asia where indigenous cultures independently discovered the technique of building pots from rolled coils of clay. Archaeological evidence indicates coil pots were being created in Central Mexico as early as 1700 – 1500 BC and had spread north to the American Southwest by around 200 AD.

Coil building was an important pottery technique for many Native American cultures including the Anasazi, Mogollon, and Hohokam peoples. Intricately decorated coil built pots played a significant role in rituals, ceremonies, and daily life.1 Over time, Native American potters refined their techniques for thinning coils, joining them together smoothly, burnishing, and painting complex geometric designs.

In Africa, the oldest known coil built pots date back to 6000 BC and were uncovered in Nubia in modern day Sudan. Coiling remained a dominant technique in many parts of Africa for millennia with pots often decorated using roulette, incising, or impressing designs.2 Asian pottery also has a long history of coil and pinch techniques dating back to China’s Yangshao culture circa 5000 – 3000 BC.

From its origins in the ancient world, coil pottery continues to evolve as contemporary artists around the globe explore new forms, surfaces, and firing techniques while preserving an ancient handbuilding tradition.

How Coil Pots Are Made

Coil pots are made using a technique called “coiling” which involves rolling out ropes or coils of clay and stacking them on top of each other. Here are the basic steps for making a coil pot:

First, a base is formed out of a flattened oval of clay. Next, ropes or coils of clay are rolled out to a consistent thickness. The coils are then stacked vertically on top of the base, with each new coil pressed securely onto the previous coil. The clay coils are smoothed together from the inside of the pot using fingers, a rounded tool, or a wet brush. This blending together of the coils is crucial to create a solid, leak-proof pot.

As the pot gets taller, the coils are made smaller to gradually slope the sides inward. The rim can be flattened by hand or with a tool to create an even lip. The pot is then left to dry slowly and evenly to prevent cracking.

Once dried but before firing, decorations or textures can be added by techniques like carving, burnishing, painting with slips or engobes. Finally, the pot is fired in a kiln to permanently harden and set the clay.

Firing temperatures vary based on the type of clay used, but typical ranges are from 1800°F – 2300°F. The end result of the coil building process is a finished pot with visible ridges where the coils of clay were joined together. The layered coils give hand-coiled pots their distinctive aesthetic.

Source: https://ancientpottery.how/how-to-make-a-coil-pot/

Types of Coil Pots

There are two main types of coil pots – functional and decorative. Functional coil pots are designed to be used for practical purposes like storing food or water. Decorative coil pots are made purely for aesthetic appeal. Both serve important cultural roles.

Coil pots come in endless shapes and styles. Round coil pots are one of the most common shapes, as are oval, square, and freeform abstract coils. Regional pottery styles emerge from local clay sources and cultural traditions. Famous examples include Anasazi and Mimbres pots from the American Southwest, Igbo-Ukwu pots from Nigeria, and Majolica pots from Mexico.

While similar coil techniques may be used around the world, the visual styles of coil pots can vary dramatically by culture. Distinct regional varieties exhibit particular shapes, textures, and decorative motifs tied to local materials and artistic customs. Coil pots reflect not just function but the beliefs, values, and creativity of their makers.

As cited from (https://www.sel.k12.oh.us/protected/ArticleView.aspx?iid=630P2G2&dasi=3PI0), coil pots showcase both cultural diversity and human ingenuity across time and place.

Decorating Coil Pots

One of the most exciting parts of making coil pots is decorating them. There are many creative ways to add color, texture, and patterns to these handmade vessels.
Surface decoration techniques like slipping, sgraffito, mishima, and carving allow potters to create visual interest on the sides and rims of pots. Using colored slips under a clear glaze lets the clay body show through for a mottled effect. Sgraffito involves scratching through layers of colored slips to reveal the clay beneath. Mishima is a technique where slip is inlaid into carved lines in the leather-hard clay. Potters can also carve or impress designs into the sides of coil pots before firing.

Applying glazes and underglazes is also a popular way to decorate coil pots. Layering glazes, using runs and drips, painting details, or dipping the pots creates colorful, glossy surfaces. Underglazes can be used similarly to colored slips. Using a combination of techniques, like sgraffito through underglazes, allows for dramatic results.

Texture and visual interest can be achieved by adding pressed molds, soft slabs, lace, leaves, or other materials to the pots before firing. Rolling, paddling, and stamping the clay can imprint lovely patterns. Simple impressions with tails, shells, bamboo, or other tools make distinctive designs. Coil pots also lend themselves well to carved textures, whether geometric or organic.

With a little creativity, coil pots can be transformed into incredible works of art using readily available decoration methods. The handmade quality and visible coils provide the perfect canvas for surface embellishment.

examples of decorated coil pots

https://www.pinterest.com/chris1clay/coil-pot-decoration/

Uses of Coil Pots

Coil pots have been used for a variety of everyday, artistic, and cultural purposes throughout history:

Everyday uses:

  • Storage of food, water, and other household items
  • Cooking and baking
  • Serving food and drink

Artistic purposes:

  • Decorative pieces for the home
  • Garden pots and planters
  • Sculptural artworks

Cultural roles:

  • Used in spiritual rituals and ceremonies
  • Given as gifts with cultural significance
  • Used to convey cultural stories and traditions
  • Archaeological artifacts providing insight into ancient cultures

Coil-built pots have served important utilitarian, artistic, and cultural roles for thousands of years across many civilizations. Their unique handmade quality makes them meaningful in both daily and ceremonial practices.

Advantages of Coil Building

One of the key benefits of coil pots is the creative flexibility they allow. Because coils are built up individually, artists have immense control over the final shape and design. This freeform approach lets potters create unique, organic forms not possible with wheel-thrown pieces.

Coil-built ceramics also tend to be very sturdy and durable. The process of welding coil upon coil results in thick, strong walls that resist cracks and breakage. Many coil pots last for generations if cared for properly.

In addition, coil building produces pieces with an attractive artisanal, handmade appearance. The irregularities and imperfections of each hand-rolled coil are retained in the finished work. This lends coil pots a rustic, crafts-like aesthetic appealing to many.

As this section shows, the method offers creative freedom, sturdiness, and artisanal charm that make coil-building appealing to potters seeking an alternative to wheel-thrown ware. (Source)

Challenges of Coil Pots

Coil pots present some unique challenges compared to other pottery techniques like wheel throwing or slab construction. Some of the main difficulties with coil building include:

Time Investment – Building coil pots is a very slow, methodical process. Each coil must be individually rolled out, then scored, slipped and blended into the body of the pot. This requires patience and precision. Coil pots can take days or even weeks to complete depending on the size and intricacy of the design.

Difficulty Blending Coils – Properly attaching and blending coils into a smooth, seamless surface takes skill. If coils are not perfectly sealed together, cracks can form during drying and firing. Coils must be perfectly aligned and bonded using score and slip techniques. Any unevenness in coil width or gaps between coils will be accentuated during firing.1

Weight of Finished Product – Because coil pieces tend to have thicker, more uniform walls for strength, the final fired vessels can be quite heavy. Large coil pots will be very cumbersome to transport and difficult to lift when full of contents. The weight also increases risk of cracks if dropped.

Notable Coil Potters

Some of the most famous and influential coil potters include:

Gordon Baldwin is a British studio potter known for his large, sculptural coil pots. Baldwin forms the coils by hand and builds vessel forms from the bottom up. His surfaces are heavily textured with bold colors like black, white, and earth tones (source).

Elizabeth Fritsch is another British potter recognized for her abstract, unconventional coils pots. She creates unique shapes by manipulating and pinching the coils as she builds. Fritsch’s palette includes dark colors like blues, browns, and grays (source).

Nigerian potter Ladi Kwali gained fame for her traditional coil pots made for everyday use. She molded the coils into functional forms like plates, pots, and vases. Kwali drew on local cultural motifs for surface designs on her smoke-fired pieces (source).

These artists helped elevate coil techniques in studio ceramics. Their innovative forms, textures, and cultural influences showcase the creative potential of coil building.

The Future of Coil Pottery

Coil pottery has seen a revival in recent years as ceramic artists, educators, and enthusiasts have worked to preserve this ancient art form and pass on skills to new generations. Many schools and community arts programs now offer coil building classes to teach the fundamentals of handbuilding (Famous Coil Pottery Artists – 18 Different Ways of Coiling). Online tutorials and social media groups have also helped spread knowledge and inspire newcomers to try their hand at coil pots.

While coil building has a long history, there are still new innovations being made today. Contemporary coil artists are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, creating complex forms, intricate surface designs, and large-scale pieces with coils. New tools and materials provide fresh possibilities, like using unconventional cores or combining coils with other techniques. Artists are also finding creative ways to make the process faster while maintaining the handmade look (360 Clay Coil Inspiration ideas).

As an ancient, universal ceramics technique, coil building helps maintain cultural heritage around the world. From Native American pottery to African vessels, coils connect us to history. Many coil potters today work to revive endangered local styles or reinterpret traditional motifs. Communities are recognizing coil pots as important cultural artifacts to preserve. Through revived interest and education, the coil building tradition persists, passed on to new generations of makers.

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