Ceramics Coil and Slab Methods
There are 3 main hand building techniques for making 3D ceramic forms (pots). These are the pinch, coil and slab techniques. Since ancient times these techniques have been used to create large, imaginative and exciting vessels or pots. Until quite recently they have usually been functional but now they are made as decorative works of art. Many of the potters and artists who make these pots have become well known and their work is collected and displayed in galleries, much the same as paintings and sculpture.
Assignment For this project you will research the work of a culture, eg the work of Chinese, African, Greek, Native American, Nigerian, Roman or other pottery. Notice what techniques are used, how large the pots are, where they were made, were they glazed, do they have patterns on them, what techniques were used to create the pattern? Have the pots been made for a particular reason, are they just decorative, or do they have a message - is the artist trying to say something? When you have gathered all this information, put it all together in an interesting way, along with some illustrations, in your sketchbook – remember presentation is important. Using the resources you have found, design a coil pot of your own that reflects the essential design qualities of the culture you have selected. Draw 3 proposed vessels in your sketchbook. Keep the drawing in front of you as you work on your vessel.
Coil Pots
Building a coil pot
Nigerian stoneware coil pot decorated with a traditional Nigerian incised pattern
African incised vase
African - Niger Delta
African Storage Jar
Japanese Ritual Vessel
Egyptian Storage Jar
Unglazed earthenware jar decorated with darker slip Egyptian, about 3300 BC.
Chinese Hill Jar
Chinese Spirit Jars
Tang Dynasty - China
Unglazed earthenware jar decorated with a pattern of green and brown slip. Coil pot. North west China. About 2000 – 1500 BC
Roman Storage Vessel
Unglazed earthenware jar. Part thrown, part coil pot. Applied decoration. About BC. Knossos, Crete.
Greek Amphoras
Andalusian Amphora
Acoma Vessel
Acoma vessel
Contemporary Acoma decorative techniques
Hopi
Joy Navesie Hopi Potter
Santa Clara Pueblo Carved Decoration
Santa Clara Pueblo
Contemporary sculpture using coil method - Derrick Wilshaw
Derrick Wilshaw. Large slab and coil stoneware pot 1967
Grayson Perry ‘Everything Else in the Room is Rubbish.’ Coil built with black slip, applied and overglaze decoration.
Grayson Perry ‘Two Children Born on the Same Day.’ Earthenware coil pot, sgraffito, applied decoration, photographic transfers, copper oxide. 1996
Slab Construction
Fiona Hannon. Slab built lamp. 2007
Ken Eastman. ‘Still Life With Seven Forms.’ Slab built and painted.. 19 x cm. 1997
Stoneware slab pots. 20 th century
David Faithful. Lidded Pot. Slab buit. 1970’s
Shoji Hamada. ‘Vase’ Japan 1938
Toini Muona. ‘Chamotte Vase’ Finland 20 th century
Steve Irvine. ‘Ceramic Pinhole Camera.’ 2007
Kazuo Yaqi. ‘Walking’ Japan
Building a slab pot
Slab pots.
Lisa Pritchard
Slab Houses
Chickadee birdhouse
New England architecture
Temples GreekRoman
Cottages Irish cottageScottish cottage
Cottages CotswoldThatched roof
Cottages Key WestVictorian
Huts AfricanThai
Chinese House
Chris Theiss. ‘On the Bridge.’ Slab and coil work with sgraffito. 1989