Art – Coiling a small pot

 

COILING A SMALL POT

 

       Materials

AARDVARK® gray clay cone .06 – (Other types of clay may also be used.) 

Masking tape – Tape the wax paper square to a flat surface. Run the tape completely across the top and the bottom squares. Sandwich bag – Place an 8 oz. piece of clay in the bag. Close the bag after each removal of clay. 

Wooden spoon – 3 5/8” craft size 

Small bowl – cover just the bottom with water 

Smooth rounded stone 

Corrugated cardboard – cut a 5” by 7” square 

Wax paper – cut a 12” by 14” square Toothpicks 

This pot may be taken to a ceramic shop and fired in a kiln at cone .06. Allow it to dry about a week before firing. 


  1. Shape and roll a small amount of clay into a ball about 2” in diameter. 

 

  1. Flatten the ball of clay between the fingers forming a round patty about 1/2” thick. This is the base of the pot. Place it on the                cardboard square. 
  2. Roll a chunk of clay into ropelike thickness to a length that will fit around the clay base. Roll the clay out on the wax paper from the middle to the ends using both hands.
  3. Dip fingers into the water. Run the water around the edge of the clay base and/ or score/scratch with a toothpick. Coil the clay rope on the inside of the edge. Press the ends together. 
  4. Roll out a second rope of clay. Run water over the top of the first coil and form a second coil. Make sure that the coils do not connect on the same side. The completed pot is about 2” high and 3” in diameter. 
  5. Use a toothpick to engrave designs on the coils or smooth out the coils using the stone on the inside of the pot and patting and smoothing the coils on the outside with the wooden spoon. Be sure the coils are bonded together on the inside and outside of the pot before it is fired.