By Joseph Paul CaparasMaking of handmade pottery started way back in 25,000 BC and it is considered as the oldest craft. The first ever pottery made was a handmade pottery vessel for holding water. In Egypt, about 3,000 - 4,000 BC potteries were hand carved as during those times, the pottery wheel has not been invented yet. But when it was created, pottery has evolved. New forms were made and potteries are more symmetrical.
Hand crafting pottery is still practiced up to date. There are thousands of potters making handmade pottery worldwide. Handmade Pottery still serves it functional purpose moreover; it is also a form of expressing artistry. There are many techniques and styles used by modern potters yet they are still making use of the basics. Because of these changes, handmade stoneware with unique appearance was developed.
Handmade stoneware pottery is famous for its non-porous texture and scratch resistant features. There are times that porcelain is believed to be a type of stoneware pottery but porcelain is white and often transparent. There are two options to make beautiful stoneware, with or without pottery wheel although the former is much preferred.
Before starting making your handmade stoneware, equipments and other items needed should be prepared and these are the following: apron, clay, water, gaze, brushes and pottery wheel. You also have to choose a working that is flat, smooth and wide enough for ease of working.
To make handmade stoneware pottery, follow these simple steps.
Air bubbles should be removed from the clay by wedging, kneading and throwing. Then for conformity of the set pieces, the clay should be weighed but prior to it, by wedging. Stoneware pottery is often made of clay that is heavy in mixture to have greater pottery strength. You also have to choose what color you will use. Colors of clay range from beige to white tones but the common are brownish to grayish.
Mold the handmade stoneware to your desired shape. After which, apply glaze over the handmade pottery once it dried up. Glaze can either be prepared or purchased depending on the potter's liking. The glaze will serve as the coating of your handmade stoneware. It also acts as sealant to preserve the richness of color and texture.
The handmade stoneware is then placed into the kiln. High temperatures are often fired to stoneware to enhance its colors. However, if dull colors are desired, low temperatures can be used. Moreover, firing at high temperature gives the hard finish look of the handmade pottery.
Making handmade pottery is an art. Typically, these handmade stoneware pottery are durable that will certainly last even if the potter who made it has passed away. In every pottery there is a story left unspoken, thus it will be a good heirloom to future generations especially if you hand crafted it personally.
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