Amphora Project: Heroes and Handbuilding

Create Template

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

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

Creating the Base Slab

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

Rolling Coils

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.

Building the Vessel Walls

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.

Checking with the Template

Use template frequently to guide form.

Shaping with the Template

Refining the Amphora Form

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

Adding Decorative Handles

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.

Applying Images to Vessel

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

Applying Underglaze

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

Creating the Sgraffito Design

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.

Bisque Firing & Glazing

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

Video