new pots

the last three days I have lit the studio woodburner and tackled some new ideas.

inspired by the thought of making a little teapot for a friend, and the problem solving that would involve, I contacted another local potter who also works with wood, about making twisted twig handles. I hope to see him next week. he has a wood which he has started to coppice and thinks he can provide me with the right materials.

so, that is one essential part of the teapot organised in a satisfactory way, I don’t think I can make a pulled handle that would work with my way of making, and the craggy sort of teapot I was envisaging. but I do have to make secure attachments for a twig handle, a spout that will pour, and a lid that will not fall off when the pot is tipped up.

spouts I can do – quite what sort of pourers they will be remains to be seen.

the lids are cut out of the top quite simply

and given a little flange or hook, which I hope will work

and the incised lines are just part of where I am going at the moment. I have to mix up a liner glaze which will help to waterproof them (usually my pots are a bit porous) also this spanish terracotta will vitrify below the top temperature of my kiln. I am thinking of mixing Nic Collins’ orange shino for the liner. might use it for the outsides too.

next I decided to have a go at this mysterious and ancient helmet shape from the Cycladic museum’s online images. it has been brooding over me for quite a while now.

I hammered this sheet of terracotta crank with the spaghetti spoon, gave it a base and a cap, beat the top into a curved dome.

more spoon marks, the one on the right has the holes on the inside

intuitive making, making it up as I go along …

a smaller version

with a little crest on its back.

I have used all the Spanish clay now. I have two bags of crank, which I like using with a layer of white stoneware rolled into it, so that will be the next move, after I have used the last half of the terracotta crank bag. a restock of clay looms. I am so envious of Douglas Fitch and his huge heap of freshly dug Devon clay from the field below his workshop.