Study Notes on Vase Making Process

Clay Preparation for Vase Making

• Mining Process

  • Workers first mine naturally occurring clay.

  • Clay mixed with water in outdoor pools.

  • Impurities in the clay settle to the bottom.

  • Water evaporation leaves behind purified clay.

  • Workmen heat the purified clay to enhance malleability.

Shaping the Vase

• Potter's Wheel

  • A mass of clay is centered on a potter's wheel.

  • Ancient wheels rotated manually by the potter or assistants.

  • Modern electric powered wheels function similarly.

• Shaping Process

  • The potter forms a depression in the middle of the clay.

  • By pulling outward and upward, the clay is shaped gradually to create different vessel types.

Tools Used in Ancient Crafts

• Possible Tools

  • While exact tools are unknown, ancient craftsmen likely utilized:

  • Wooden implements.

  • Metal implements.

  • Sponges for smoothing and shaping the clay.

Finalizing the Vase Shape

• Trimming and Smoothing

  • After drying slightly, excess clay is trimmed away.

  • The vessel surface smoothed.

• Adding Features

  • A separately made foot is applied for stability.

  • Handles made from coiled clay complete the vessel shape.

Painting the Vase

• Slip Application

  • A fine liquid clay known as slip is painted on desired areas for black coloration.

  • Unpainted areas left as a background for decoration.

• Decorative Techniques

  • Unpainted area to be decorated with black figure technique.

  • After reaching leathery hard texture, preliminary sketches made in charcoal.

  • Charcoal sketches guide the use of slip to create silhouetted forms, often depicting human figures.

  • Interior lines incised through slip to reveal lighter clay beneath.

  • Additional details added with red ochre.

Firing Process

• Firing Overview

  • Firing occurs in a kiln and consists of three main steps, lasting approximately six to eight hours.

  • Craftsman required great experience to manage the process due to the lack of thermometers or clocks.

• First Firing Phase

  • Temperature raised to about 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit.

  • Oxygen-rich atmosphere created by allowing air into the upper chamber of the kiln.

  • This produces red ferric oxide in both clay and slip, transforming them to red.

• Second Firing Phase

  • Temperature increased to approximately 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit.

  • Air vents closed, damp wood or wet leaves introduced into the kiln’s stoking tunnel.

  • This creates an oxygen-poor, carbon-rich environment.

  • Black ferrous oxide forms, changing both the clay and slip from red to black.

  • Slip becomes glossy, resistant to further changes.

• Third Firing Phase

  • Oxygen allowed back into the upper chamber of the kiln.

  • Surface of the vessel not covered in slip turns back to red; areas covered with slip remain black.

  • Full cooling of the kiln takes around twelve hours, after which vases can be removed.