Everyday Pottery

Created June 13-Aug 15, 2009: 27. Bowls   28. Mugs   29. Jugs   30. Serving dish   31. Drug Jar  32. Watering Pot


Some people in our barony (Windmasters' Hill) got together for a private "Medieval Pottery" class on June 13 (and several following Saturdays). I threw my first pot on that day, and it turned into my latest all-consuming hobby. Most pieces shown below were made with red earthenware clay, biscuit fired and then glazed at cone 04 in an electric kiln. I have also tried out white earthenware and a low fire clay called "Carolina Buff". The studio we used (and where I'm now a regular student) unfortunately has only electric wheels, but I've already contacted a master woodworker in Atlantia about commissioning a period style wheel from him.

My main visual references for these pieces are the Museum of London's ceramics collection. My key 'go to' web sites have been
 

 Ashmolean Museum (Oxford University) http://potweb.ashmolean.org/

 British Museum http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/introduction.aspx

 Fitzwilliam Museum (Cambridge University) http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/opac/search/search.html

 Museum of London http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/ceramics/

 Victoria and Albert Museum http://collections.vam.ac.uk/


Bowls

My favorite bowl, so far. Just visible on the right is my first pot, a rather squat butter dish that may or may  not be 'period", LOL Porringer. The blue is a mysterious appearance--I used a 'grass green' glaze! Group shot. The glaze on the left front bowl didn't go on thickly enough, which is why parts of the inside look matt instead of glossy. Live and learn.

 

Mugs

Three "preliminary" mugs--glazing problems on the yellows, and ugly applied handles (handles are HARD!) Mugs drying, before applying a handle or thumbing the base. See the description under 'Jugs" to find out how this nicely shaped mug ended up such a bad shade of blue. On the plus side, the mug is light weight and holds at least 12 ounces...

 

Jugs

Small jug (right) and mug after dipping in white slip. About a half hour later, both handles fell off! But I was able to attach new handles later. The plan was to glaze both in yellow (there is a mug like these in the British Museum). However, firing proved the slip bucket was mislabeled, and it wasn't white it was BLUE! Carolina Blue! Looks awful, and a few spots of glaze crawling. Small jug based on some at the Museum of London. Glazed green, knowing that the green would show more as brown against red earthenware. Blocking the view is a bowl on which the glaze looked very odd once it dried...I have since reglazed it. (These pieces are waiting for their final firing) The largest jug I've thrown, which is now waiting for bisque firing. In the next few months I hope to be able to throw taller jugs (8-10 inches finished heights).

 

Serving Dish, Drug Jar & Watering Pot
Plain, useful. Glazed in yellow. Chicken tikka masala looks great served in this! (L) This jar has been bisque fired and glazed, and is waiting for final firing. (r) after firing--this is the same glaze as is on the watering pot. The color appears different because the underlying clays are different (above is Carolina Buff, the watering pot is plain old red earthenware) (L) Watering pot, fresh off the wheel. Once it dried to leather hardness, I drilled the vent hole at the top and across the bottom (and removed the knob at the top). (C) Now bisque fired & glazed. (R) Done!