Amphora Project: Heroes and Handbuilding

Goals & Objectives

Step 1

Research ancient Greek vessel shapes and create a template using cardboard. Cut out template. Use the negative space portion of the template.

Note: Although most pottery in Ancient Greece was thrown on a potters wheel, for this project we're using coil-building.

Step 2

Make a slab 1/2" thick . Cut out a circle for the base.

Step 3

Roll clay into thick coils. Make the coils at least 1" thick. Clay should be fairly soft.

Alternately, instead of rolling coils by hand, extrude coils.

Step 4

Slip and score coils to join. Use fingers or a wood tool to mesh clay together. Thin coils by pinching upwards. After joining and pinching walls should be 1/4" to 1/2" thick.

Step 5

Use template frequently to guide form.

Step 6

Use paddle (lightly) and scraper to shape and smooth the vessel.

Step 7

Add handles, made as coils. Make sure to slip and score to make secure attachments. Use wood tools to smooth transition to body.

Helpful Hint: To prevent handles from drying faster than the body and cracking, wrap handles tightly in plastic, or coat with wax.

Step 8

Use wood tool or pencil to draw or trace image lightly onto leatherhard vessel.

Step 8

Apply two to three coats of black underglaze, roughly blocking in the figures. Let underglaze dry completely between coats.

Step 9

Allow underglaze to become dry to the touch. While clay is still leather-hard, use a sgraffito tool to etch lines in the underglaze. Let dry before brushing off the crumbs.

Step 10

Bisque to cone 04. Then, glaze with 2 even coats of LM-10 Transparent Matt glaze, and fire to cone 05.