What Is The Coiling Technique In Pottery?

The coiling technique is a method of ceramic production used to shape clay into vessels or other products by building it up using long coils or rolls of clay. Rather than throwing clay on a potter’s wheel or using molds, the coils are stacked and joined together one by one to form the desired shape.

History

The coiling technique dates back thousands of years to ancient cultures around the world. Evidence of early coiled pottery has been found in sites across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas.

Some of the earliest known examples come from China, where pottery fragments from around 6500 BCE show coiling marks. In Japan, clay figurines and vessels from the Jōmon period (14,000 – 300 BCE) were constructed using coils.

In the Americas, coiled pottery developed independently among cultures of the Southwest United States. According to https://ancientpottery.how/history-of-coil-pottery/, coil techniques emerged in Central Mexico around 2000 BCE and spread north over the next two millennia. Indigenous Ancestral Puebloan, Hohokam, and Mogollon peoples all produced coiled ceramics.

Evidence indicates coiling has origins as an ancient, globally-used technique for handbuilding clay vessels and sculptures across many early civilizations.

How It Works

The coiling technique is a method of handbuilding pottery that involves rolling out “snakes” or coils of clay and stacking them on top of one another to build up the walls of a pot. Here is a step-by-step overview of the basic coiling process:

First, a base is formed, either by pinching up a ball of clay, using a slab, or throwing on the wheel. Next, clay is rolled into long, rope-like coils. The thickness of the coils determines the thickness of the pot walls. Thicker coils are used for larger pots, while thinner coils are used for finer pottery.

The coils are then stacked up, one by one, to build the walls. Each coil is joined to the one beneath it by scratching and blending the two together from the inside. The coils can be stacked vertically or spiraled up at an angle. As the coils are stacked, the potter uses their fingers to smooth out the inner and outer surface of the growing pot walls.

Extra clay is added and the form is refined by pinching and smoothing as needed. The pot is left to dry slightly between adding coils. Once completed, the pot is allowed to dry fully before firing.

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

Types of Coiling

There are three main types of coiling used in pottery:

Pinch Pot

The pinch pot technique involves rolling clay into a ball and then pinching and pressing the clay between fingers and thumb to form the desired shape. Pinch pots produce thick-walled vessels with an organic, hand-shaped appearance. They can be used on their own or combined with coils for more intricate forms. Pinch pots are a simple coiling method great for beginners. Source

Sausage

With the sausage method, ropes of clay are rolled out on a flat surface into long cylindrical “sausages.” The coils are then stacked and joined together to build up the vessel walls. Sausage coils allow for taller, thinner pieces than pinch pots. The thickness of the sausages determines the thickness of the final walls. Source

Rope

The rope technique uses thinner, longer coils that are rolled out on a board. Rope coils produce very thin, uniform walls good for delicate pieces like bottles or pitchers. It takes practice rolling an even coil “rope.” Rope coils may need extra support from within the vessel during construction. Source

Benefits

The coiling technique offers several advantages over other common handbuilding techniques like pinch pots and slabs (Why Use Coils?). Because coils are rolled out and then stacked, it is easier to achieve taller, larger, and more complex forms with coiling compared to pinch pots which are limited by the size of one’s hands. Coils also allow for thicker, stronger walls versus slabbing which requires careful joining of thinner sheets of clay. The coils bond together as the clay dries, creating a continuous form with seamless walls.

Coiling enables total flexibility and control over the shape, unlike wheel throwing which is constrained by centripetal force. Potters can create precise undulations, embellishments, and structural details with coiled pieces. Vessel forms like pitchers and teapots with spouts and handles are accessible using coils but quite challenging on the wheel. Coiling also allows combining clay colors and textures by alternating coils (Coiling Pottery 101: A Handbuilding Technique). Overall, coil building grants potters artistic freedom and versatility unmatched by other techniques.

Limitations

While the coiling technique offers many benefits, it also has some disadvantages and challenges to be aware of. According to the website The Ultimate Guide on Coil Pottery, the main limitations are:

The clay must be kept moist during the entire process or it will crack and break apart. Coiling requires a steady supply of soft, workable clay.

It can be time consuming to build larger vessels, since coils must be added and smoothed gradually as the piece grows.

Seams between coils may remain visible even after smoothing if the clay is not properly bonded. Cracks can form at the seams while drying or firing if not blended thoroughly.

Wall thickness can easily become uneven, leading to structural instability. Monitoring consistent thickness throughout a coiled piece takes practice and skill.

Restricted to round or oval shapes unless used in combination with other techniques like slabs. Complex geometric forms are very difficult.

The finishing process demands patience and care to blend coils fully. Rushing this risks cracks or collapsed walls.

Fragile in the greenware stage before bisque firing. Coiled work must be handled gently to avoid deformations.

According to the article on Ceramic Coils, coil pottery may become friable and release particles if poorly fired or shocked.

Best Practices

When using the coiling technique, there are several tips to follow for best results:

Start with a solid base – Create a flat, sturdy base for your pot by coiling a circle or square. Let it dry partially before building up.

Consistent coils – Roll out coils of consistent thickness and length. Avoid coils that are too thick or thin, as they are harder to blend.

Smooth joins – Blend each coil into the one below it by smoothing with your fingers, a rounded rib, or rubber rib. Fill any cracks or gaps.

Pace yourself – Take your time building up coils. Let lower sections firm up a bit before adding more weight above. Don’t rush.

Compress coils – Use your fingers or a wooden knife to firmly compress coils together. Remove trapped air pockets.

Let dry slowly – Cover with plastic and allow moisture to evaporate between coils. Don’t let dry too fast.

Refine shape – Once sturdy enough, refine the shape using rasps, gouges, or sandpaper. Work evenly to avoid weak spots.

Even wall thickness – Keep sides uniform by pinching thicker and thinner areas. Target an even thickness throughout.

Surface textures – Add interest by impressing designs, burnishing, or incising patterns before complete dryness.

Multiple thin coats – For firing, build up multiple thin layers of slip rather than one thick coat to prevent cracking.

Bisque fire carefully – Use a slow bisque firing schedule, especially for larger vessels, to prevent exploding.

Learn more expert coiling tips and techniques from professional potters at https://wheelandclay.com/blog/coiling-pottery/.

Common Vessels

Coiling is a technique commonly used to create a variety of functional vessels and decorative pieces. Some of the most common types of vessels made using the coiling technique include:

Bowls – Both large serving bowls and smaller individual bowls lend themselves well to coiling. The bowl shape can be easily built up using coils.[1]

Vases – Long tubular shapes like vases are easily made using coils stacked vertically and then blended together. Vases and jars for holding flowers or other items can be made.[2]

Cups/Mugs – Handled cups and basic cylinder shapes make sturdy and rustic mugs perfect for daily use. The handle can be made separately and attached.[1]

Pots – Small and large pots for cooking, storing, or displaying plants and flowers are very common coil-built pieces. The coils can be stacked round and round to form the pot shape.[2]

Plates – Coiling lends itself well to the broad shallow dish shape of plates. Plates tend to be on the heavier side when coil built.

Figurines – Decorative figurines and sculpture pieces like animals, people, or abstract shapes can be sculpted from coils of clay.

Coiling allows artists and crafters to create many different vessel shapes both functional and decorative. The technique caters well to circular and rounded forms.

Notable Artists

Many notable potters around the world are renowned for their coiled pottery creations. Some of the most famous coil pot artists include:

Ladi Kwali (1925-1984) was one of the most well-known Nigerian coil potters. She had a unique coiling technique and created elegant pots adorned with traditional motifs. According to Famous Coil Pottery Artists – 18 Different Ways of Coiling, “She had a particular method of making coil pottery that involved kneading and beating the clay rather than wedging it.”

Louise Goodman is an American artist known for her coiled rope pots, according to the Smithsonian American Art Museum. “She makes rope pots by twisting coils of clay into a cylinder. This is a difficult technique, because each coil needs to be evenly rolled and attached.”

Rose Wei, working under the pseudonym Zhu Ohmu, creates ceramic coil pots with colorful painted designs, as described on April and May. “The initial concept for the pieces was a fusion between minimalist contemporary ceramic art and traditional Chinese imagery.”

Conclusion

In summary, the coiling technique has been an integral part of pottery making for thousands of years. Its humble beginnings as a basic method of clay vessel construction have evolved into a highly versatile technique used by artisans around the world. Though mechanization and molding techniques have largely replaced coiling for mass production, it remains a cornerstone of studio pottery for its flexibility, frugality and meditative qualities. Mastering the coiling technique allows artists to handcraft personalized pieces not possible by other methods. Its minimal cost requirements also enable potters in developing regions to create beautiful and functional ware. Though time-consuming and requiring skill, the unparalleled control and individual expression coiling allows cement its enduring importance for generations of potters to come.