Brittany Morris Independent Research- Spring Semester

 Started around 30,000 years ago.  Glazes discovered around 5,000 B.C.  Potter’s wheel invented around 3 or 4,000 B.C.  Different cultures had different methods of building and firing.  Used as part of religious ceremonies.  Were later used as parts to more modern inventions: cars, TVs, computers, etc.  Design followed other art forms.  Had uses as household objects as well.

Glazes are composed of liquid glass that forms a hard, shiny outer covering on clay when it has cooled after being heated. They were thought to have been created around 8,000 B.C. in Egypt. The kilns were overheated, causing glazes to emerge from tiny pieces of glass imbedded in the clay. Many other cultures used glazes for their work, and also created other colors. Nowadays, there are a variety of colors to use, ranging from blue to green to burnt orange. Glazes have different cone numbers, which indicate the temperature that the kiln needs to be set to for firing.

Kilns, in essence, are like large ovens. However, they are set to much higher temperatures that are in the thousands mark. The kiln has to be that hot to completely dry the clay and form the glazes properly. In the past, people didn’t have kilns, so their work was simply fired in huge bonfires. Later, mainly in China, more elaborate kilns were built. These had temperature controls and air currents for circulation that didn’t overheat the clay. Today, kilns take on a variety of shapes and sizes, but all function the same way.

Cavemen not only made cave drawings, but etched out clay symbols on the walls as well. Archeologists have found several artifacts of this nature, but have realized that many had already been destroyed in some way. A majority of the symbols that have been found have some sort of meaning, but for many, that meaning has been lost. Different figurines have different meanings in prehistoric religion and are pretty self explanatory. Animal figurines symbolize good hunting and prosperous game. Human figurines symbolize usually one of two things: fertility (female) or worship of higher deities.

Figurines were also used for different ceremonies. Often times, they were used for coming of age ceremonies for the children, or for the successful harvesting of crops after the conversion from hunter to farmer. Clay has also been used for practical purposes as well. The most evident use has been making containers to hold food and water. This started after they realized baskets smeared with clay held water and grain better than baskets that were just weaved.

The Italians had an upper hand in European ceramics. They had geographic connections to the ancient Roman Empire, which was a very creative and inspirational culture. Italy was also a center for trade, so ceramics from all over was exhibited in the markets and plazas of Italy. The success of the economy also played a part, helping to bring about new techniques. The Italians created new glazes, one of which (majolica) was modeled on Persian lead glazes, and salt glazes, which were unsuccessfully kept secret from the rest of the world.

The many different dynasties of China each contributed to the history of ceramics in Asia. New glazes and kilns were also invented thanks to Chinese ingenuity and craftsmanship.  Han-glazed wares become more common.  Six Dynasties-more realistic figures.  Tang-multicolored wares introduced.  Ming-dragons and phoenixes adorn ceramics. Also, the tri-colored wares are introduced.  Ching-ceramics in general are improved. Noted for color glazes, and creation of new glazes.

 Qing to Republic of China-collapse of official kilns, private kilns established.  Japanese-Chinese War-all kilns closed, hundreds displaced. Ushered in new era in Chinese history that helped improve ceramics after the war was over. It is obvious the Chinese were an artistic people. They still create and inspire many of the ceramic pieces seen in society today.

Before the colonial period, the Mayans and Aztecs were the most noted of all American potters. Their use of multicolored slips on their artwork made their pieces stand out. The Pueblo people that settled in the western part of what would become the United States were similar in their techniques. This points to a close connection between the two, either familial, as in migration, or economic, implying extensive trading.

Once the colonial period started, potters followed strict English guidelines, not wishing to change years of learned habits. Pottery making was mostly rural, which meant rough and unadorned pottery. Need and function led to changes in pottery, which became different shapes for pitchers and dishes created through this method.

In the 1900s, ceramics was still in its infancy, and not much liked. It wasn’t until more daring artists put ceramics in college curriculum that people became interested in it. In the 1970s, “pop art” became popular, which led to a wide transition in the inspiration behind ceramics. It became a more abstract art form, with recognizable shape and symbolism thrown by the wayside. Today, ceramics follows these lines, along with the styles and forms of other cultures to show meaning.

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