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paula gray: Posted on Friday, October 28, 2011 10:59 AM
Throwing with porcelain is quite different from throwing pottery with stoneware or earthenware clay. The body is more prone to water absorption and therefore needs to be thrown quickly. Too much water will cause the clay to tire and slump easily. So away with the usual practice of much water while throwing. The smallest amount possible for studio porcelain, none if possible. This will extend the throwing time and enable more complicated shaping.You may find it advantageous to pause during a piece like a tall vase with narrow neck to rest the porcelain and allow it to stiffen slightly before continuing to shape the neck. Using ribs, metal or wood, to smooth the inner and outer surface of the piece helps reduce water content of the clay and compresses the small particles to strengthen to body on the wheel. Porcelain likes to crack at the base so really compressing the base is particularly important as is keeping water out of the bottom by regular sponging. Throwing with porcelain is unforgiving and the details must be right but with practice and experience of handling this wonderful translucent white material, you will be hooked.When finished porcelain likes to go slow. Dry slow, fire slow, handle slow. The strength comes with the vitrification and until then it is extremely fragile. Especially if you have thrown a beautifully thin piece to increase its beauty and translucency.Studio porcelain lends itself well to dinnerware and tableware, mugs, jugs and is wonderful for personalised wedding gifts. However the challenge is to get the shape and dimensions correct for good functional design and as porcelain shrinks by 25% during vitrification you have to do the Math. I am passionate about porcelain pottery. Its strength, fine quality and translucency. Pure usability. I also want to make my porcelain work affordable as well as luxurious and prices start at as little as £7 for small perfume bottle. . Making the every day less mundane.So are you a Porcelain Mug or a Cup & Saucer. Do you prefer a porcelain plate for your pasta or a porcelain pasta bowl? Do mussels taste better from a porcelain mussel bowl and does tea taste nicer if taken from the traditional Chinese porcelain tea ceremony bowls? Do you still use a teapot or coffee pot or are you a bag lady? Why have we reduced the style of our lives to the humdrum and mundane? Go on give yourself a little luxury and try life with porcelain, pure porcelain pleasure. Taste and see that ritual is the way to make every day life more enjoyable. So start now try your first porcelain mug from Pentreath Pottery. You can even order it personalised with your initials, name, photos own design.
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Posted on Friday, February 25, 2011 6:12 PM
Well I finally got my daughter to video me throwing. I threw a quickie here as I thought you would not want to watch a great long drawn out affair. But this gives you an idea as to what goes into throwing a simple, small form. |
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