Master potter Bill Van Gilder is making a chip-and-dip bowl. So far he's thrown a large bowl, approximately 13" wide, from a five-pound lump of clay. He made an indent inside the bowl where he'll place the second piece of the project. Next, he placed a decorative line around the top of the bowl and twisted the rim in three places to create a graceful swirling edge. The bowl was left to dry leather hard as he turned his attention to throwing the goblet (figure A).
1. The goblet is made in two parts, a stem and a small bowl, which will be assembled later. The two pieces are thrown from a three-pound lump of clay, a technique called "throwing off the hump." 2. The small bowl is first to be thrown. Using a fairly fast wheel speed, Bill sections off the top of the clay into a doorknob shape, then opens the top of the clay. The width of the bowl needs to be a third of the diameter of the large bowl, or approximately 4" (figure B) (figure C).
3. He smoothes the rim and, using a rib, releases the bowl from the lump of clay by cutting a small groove at the base of the bowl, giving the cutting wire a place to catch the clay. The wheel is slowed to a slow speed as he draws the wire underneath the bowl. He stops the wheel and with dry fingertips, lifts the bowl off the wheel and sets it aside (figure D).4. The stem of the goblet is the next piece to be made. It's thrown upside down so the base of the stem can be measured. The cylinder is slightly flared, 2-1/2" deep, and is opened at a fast wheel speed. Bill draws the clay upward as his fingertips move outward, creating the flare shape (figure E) (figure F).
5. To make the stem slightly taller, Bill forces the clay against a rubber rib as he draws his finger up the stem from the inside of the goblet. Using the calipers, he measures the width of the stem; it has to sit perfectly in the indent he made earlier in the bottom of the large bowl (figure G) (figure H).
6. The rim thickness of the stem needs to be about the same thickness as the small bowl. The top of the stem will be attached to the inside of the large bowl, requiring a very sturdy surface.7. Yet another important feature of this project is the height of the goblet in comparison to the bowl. The rim of the goblet needs to be slightly taller than the rim of the bowl to prevent the chips from falling in the dip when the bowl is filled (figure I). 8. The combination of the small bowl and the stem need to be between 5" and 6" tall. The small bowl is 2" tall and the stem is approximately 3" tall. 9. The stem is now cut from the clay base with the cutting tool. Bill lightly pulls the wire under the stem, pulling it toward his body. Using dry fingertips, he picks up the stem, which has a tacky surface, and sets it aside (figure J).
10. The three pieces are set aside to dry leather hard, after which they can be picked up, trimmed and assembled for the bisque firing. If the pieces bend when picked up, the drying time must be extended (figure K).11. To trim the bowl, Bill places it on a foam bat, which will protect the twists on the rim. Using a fast wheel speed, he trims the bottom with the trimming tool, keeping his thumb on the tool and locking his elbows close to his body to provide stability. The tool follows the curve of the bowl from close to the rim to the foot of the bowl (figure L).
12. The base of the bowl has to have ample width to give it stability as it sits on a table. To determine when the trimming is complete, Bill periodically stops the wheel and picks the bowl up; when it's feather light, he stops trimming. 13. After trimming, he wets the area he just trimmed and burnishes it with a rubber rib (figure M). 14. Next, he creates a bevel at the base of the bowl with the trimming tool, then softens all the sharp edges of the bowl, holding his fingertips against the surfaces as the wheel turns (figure N).
15. With the wheel still turning, Bill cuts a hole through the base of the bowl. He slowly presses a needle tool into the base, letting the extra clay drop down to the bat. The hole prevents air from becoming trapped inside the stem of the goblet when the pieces are assembled. Trapped air can expand, causing the bowl to explode in the kiln during firing (figure O). 16. The diameter of the hole has to be smaller than the inside of the goblet stem since the goblet stem will connect inside the bowl. Bill removes any sharp areas from the edge of the hole, then softens the edge with a sponge before placing his signature stamp in the clay (figure P).
RESOURCES :
Kilns
L & L Kilns
Website: www.hotkilns.com
Clay
Highwater Clays
Website: www.highwaterclays.com
Extruders
American Art Clay Co. Inc. (AMACO)
Website: www.amaco.com
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