DIY Network

Covered Casserole Dish: A Bowl Becomes a Lid Creating a ceramic casserole dish and lid, Part 2 of 4 From "Throwing Clay" episode DTHC-210

Figure A

Master potter Bill Van Gilder is making a covered casserole dish. First he threw a flat-bottomed bowl with a wide rim. He split the rim to form a ledge that will hold the lid and added decorative lines to the rim (figure A).

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1. Bill next centers 2-1/2 pounds of clay. Like the base, the top is also a bowl shape, but the inside will be shaped into a curve. The outside dimensions will fit the gallery, which will be 9-1/2". After opening the clay, he glides his fingertips slowly upward, creating the inside curve of the lid (figure B).

2. As he pulls the clay upward, he captures the inside and outside clay with his fingertips; he keeps both thumbs on the rim as he draws the clay slowly upward and outward (figure C).

Figure B

Figure C

3. The lid is too deep. To correct the line, Bill will need to stretch, or lay out, the clay a bit more. He works very carefully, keeping the fingertips of his right hand lightly touching the bottom side of the clay. Because there isn't much clay underneath to support the span of the lid, the clay can easily collapse--and it does (figure D).

4. Using fresh clay, Bill carefully throws another lid to the correct diameter and cuts it loose from the wheel head. He sets the lid aside to dry leather hard, at which time, both the bowl and the lid will be trimmed and handles will be shaped for the bowl (figure E).

Figure D

Figure E

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