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 Methods of forming pottery: Hand-shaping was the earliest method used to form vessels. This included the combination of pinching and coiling.  A thumb pot (or pinch pot) is an ancient form of pottery and it is the simplest form of pottery. The pinching method is a means to create pottery that can be ornamental or functional, and has been widely employed across cultures and times.

 For archaeologists, anthropologists and historians the study of pottery can help to provide an insight into past cultures.  Pottery is durable, and fragments, at least, often survive long after artifacts made from less- durable materials such as grasses, bone, or glass decayed or been distroyed past recognition.  Combined with other evidence, the study of pottery artifacts is helpful in the development of theories on the organization, economic condition and the cultural development of the societies that produced or acquired pottery.

 Pinch pot vases are reasonably simple to make and so, are a great beginning project. These vases incorporate the pinch pot method and scoring and slipping with additive features. mouth neck body base

 Students learn the parts of a vase, devise five types of their own creation drawing them as thumbnail sketches before they are given clay, and produce at least three of their ideas.  Designs are impressed, or stamped into two separate clay buttons for two sides of the pot.  Finally, students will test different glazes on the vases. Continued Impressive Pinch Pot Vases

 Familiarity with the medium one is working with is important in the creation of art.  Students will understand and practice manipulation of the type of clay available to them.  Students will discover and perfect basic construction methods and decorative methods, as well as observing the qualities of basic commercial glazes over textured and smooth surfaces.  This is also a good time for students to learn how to set up, put away, and properly use the equipment, materials, and tools they need to create their products.

 pinch-pot.html pinch-pot.html

Here are some pointers for creating pinch pots:  work in a spiral from bottom to top  use the tip of your thumb on the interior, while supporting the exterior with your other hand  minor stretch cracks can be left as a textural effect, if desired  deep cracks should be welded immediately using a tiny amount of slurry or slip  rims can be left untrimmed or they can be trimmed with a potter's needle when the pot is leather- hard  the pot can be smoothed, or even burnished with a wooden rib, when the pot is leather-hard

1. Read, quiz and think 2. Design and draw 3. Create 3 separate pots (see next slide if you need extra time to work on the pot) 4. Finish smooth or texture 5. Air dry, after one- two days it should be leather-hard 6. Leather hard can be cut or add-on pieces with score and slip method 7. Complete dry 8. Bisque fire (cone 04) 9. Glaze pot AND use wax resist on the bottom of the pots 10. Final fire (cone 06)

Pinched forms can take more time to create than we have in one sitting. When you have to leave your work while it is in progress, place damp paper towels across the top row. Cover the entire piece with plastic. If you should need the bottom of the pot to stiffen slightly, leave some gaps where the plastic meets the table or shelf. Otherwise, tuck the plastic under the support surface. If the humidity is high, add a layer of newspaper or cloth in between the pot and the plastic. This will absorb any condensation, which could otherwise make your pot collapse. Taking a Break

 Definition: Wax Resist (noun) is a waxy substance used to prevent slips or glazes from adhering onto the clay body or a prior coating of slip, etc. A resist is especially helpful in keeping glaze from adhering to a pot's base, and in the case of a lidded jar, from keeping the areas the lid and the jar meet free from glaze.  In the past, wax resists where simply melted wax; today there are a number of wax emulsions, including many which are water-based.  Wax resist can also used in decoration. The resist can be used both under or over underglazes, glazes, and slips to create designs. Bowl with wax resist design Resist on the bottom on the pot After wax is applied, it is cut away before glazing to keep some of the pot natural Wax Resist

1. What is the oldest method of pot making? A. slab rolling B. coiling pots C. purchase at Walmart D. Pinch pots 2. Who studies “old pots” to discover about civilizations? A. archeologist B. historians C. anthropologists D. all of the above 1. How many sketches minimum do you need to make before you get your clay? A. 1 B. 3 C. 5 D What is score and slip? A. a new type of pizza B. making grooves on wet/leather hard clay and using the slip as a glue C. a baseball term D. none of the above 3. What is the top of the vase called? A. mouth B. neck C. body D. base 4. A glaze is: A. applied after the bisque fire B. a chemical C. adds color or protection to a pot D. all of the above 5. How is wax resist used: A. to remove unwanted hair B. keep glaze from the bottom of a pot C. for crayon drawings D. never as a decorative property 6. What is leather hard? A. a Marine term B. used to make saddles C. point where clay is hard but not dry D. last stage in pottery making 7. Cone 04 is the firing level for: A. glazes B. first fire C. last fire D. never used 10. If you run out of time in class and your pot is not done: A. give up B. ask for a pass for PE C. cover the pot with plastic and damp paper D. Throw the pot away

1. DESIGN Other 2. CONSTRUCTION Other 3. CRAFTSMANSHIP Other 4. PATTERNS/TEXTURES Other 5. GLAZING Other 6. One aspect about this project that I learned ___________________________________________ 7. Did you wax resist the bottom of the pots to keep glaze from the shelf? YES NO 8. Was this a project you would consider revising for your final? YES NO Ancient Pottery, Pinch Pot Student Evaluation Name______________________________________ Dated ________________