Making Pots: A Ceramicist's Guide

Learn the ancient craft of making artisan pots, from clay preparation and drying to glazing and firing.

You don't need much to make your first pot, just a piece of clay and an idea. At the same time, it's a craft one develops over a lifetime. Making Pots is a handbook both for the beginner and more experienced potter.

Basic skills are taught along with a background explanation of the rich history of pottery. Step-by-step the potter, Stefan Andersson, guides us on the potter's wheel, glaze manufacture and firing, sharing his techniques and know-how. Stefan also describes how to set up your own workshop, make your own tools, and design, stone-by-stone, your own kiln. What happens if there's a pocket of air in your clay? If the potter's wheel slips when you centre the clay? Or if the pots fall apart as you decorate the slipware? For each section there are also solutions to common problems.

The book is founded on Stefan's enterprise and production of wood-fired ceramics with photos and diagrams describing the tasks and techniques.

Chapters include:
Clay Preparation
Drying
Glazing
Firing
Kilns
Tools
Forming Techniques

Stefan Andersson is a potter based in Leksand, Sweden. His wood-fired products are to be found in restaurants and with collectors all over the world. In 2010 and 2015 Stefan was awarded the Arts and Crafts Foundation's much sought after grant for his work and he is a leading potter. He is also a much appreciated teacher in ceramic and every year arranges the biggest ceramics event, the Ceramics Symposium in Leksand, Sweden.