Handbuilding Techniques: Handbuilding Techniques: CoilCoil

Lucy LewisLucy Lewis

Studio in Ceramics

Mr. Martin

– The earliest known fired The earliest known fired ceramic objects are clay ceramic objects are clay figurines dating to figurines dating to roughly 24,000 BCE roughly 24,000 BCE found in large numbers in found in large numbers in Central Europe. In the Central Europe. In the Americas, ceramic Americas, ceramic production can be dated production can be dated to 2500 BCE. The earliest to 2500 BCE. The earliest ceramic pots were ceramic pots were handbuilt, as opposed to handbuilt, as opposed to wheel-thrown on a wheel-thrown on a potter's wheel. Most potter's wheel. Most American pottery was American pottery was made by coiling, which made by coiling, which may be related to ancient may be related to ancient basketmaking methods. basketmaking methods. In this technique, a coil is In this technique, a coil is rolled and shaped into a rolled and shaped into a base, and the walls are base, and the walls are built up from there. The built up from there. The inside and outside walls inside and outside walls are then either pinched are then either pinched into ruffled textures with into ruffled textures with the fingers or scraped flat the fingers or scraped flat with a piece of gourd or a with a piece of gourd or a smooth stick. smooth stick.

Clay lined baskets Clay lined baskets made baskets more made baskets more

durable and durable and

waterproofwaterproof

Prehistoric BritainPrehistoric Britain Prehistoric Britain

Prehistoric Egyptian 4000 B.C. western Turkey c.5000 BC.

Shards from Western Asia

Show brush work and incisions imitating basket patterns

Rito Talavera: Mata Ortiz Potters Rito Talavera: Mata Ortiz Potters

Rito first starts out by creating a tortilla shape base for the pot; it Rito first starts out by creating a tortilla shape base for the pot; it is then placed into a plaster mold called a "Puki". The mold helps is then placed into a plaster mold called a "Puki". The mold helps hold the shape of the potter vessel to give it a very pointed base; hold the shape of the potter vessel to give it a very pointed base; this is traditional in both aesthetics and function. Next he adds a this is traditional in both aesthetics and function. Next he adds a large coil and begins to construct the wall of the pot. large coil and begins to construct the wall of the pot.

After each coil is attached and the walls After each coil is attached and the walls are raised, Rito will smooth the surface of are raised, Rito will smooth the surface of the pot with a flexible hacksaw blade the pot with a flexible hacksaw blade ensuring that there is an even thickness of ensuring that there is an even thickness of 1/4th inch to the walls as well as a very 1/4th inch to the walls as well as a very smooth surface to the exterior. smooth surface to the exterior.

After each coil is attached and the walls a raised, Rito will smooth the surface of the pot with a flexible hacksaw blade ensuring that there is an even thickness of 1/4th inch to the walls as well as a very smooth surface to the exterior.

HOPI HAND COILED POTTERYHOPI HAND COILED POTTERY