What to Know About Pottery

Pottery is one of the oldest pieces of human culture. For thousands of years we have been turning clay into usable containers and other various goods. The great thing about this is anyone can learn it, so if you have interest, there are options for you.

This craft starts with a pottery wheel. This was invented between 6,000 and 4,000 BCE in ancient Mesopotamia and has remained as useful as it was back then. There is a great selection of pottery wheels for beginners out there as well as more experienced potters, so no matter your skill level, you can find the right one for you.

You will not make much pottery without any clay, though. Clay suppliers carry three different basic types of clay: stoneware, porcelain, and earthenware. The latter requires temperatures between 1,830 and 2,190 degrees Fahrenheit, which brings us to the final major piece of the puzzle.

In order to turn a carefully shaped bit of clay into a working vessel, you need a pottery kiln, or a special super heated oven. As far as fuels for these go, you can choose from coal, wood, gas, or electric kilns. When using coal or wood, though, soot, ash, and smoke tend to mix into the clay as it heats up, which changes the appearance somewhat. One of the most reliable brands out there is Skutt kilns. It is important to get a trusted name, as it can often mean the difference between a beautiful pot and a shattered mess. Whether you want to decorate your handiwork before or after you fire it is up to you.

There is never a bad time to start a new hobby, and few are as practical as pottery. Once you have picked out one of the amazing Skutt kilns out there, a good pottery wheel, and a healthy supply of clay, you too can start producing beautiful works that you can actually use. Make sure you never stop having fun with it. References.