More on Soft Altering Clay- Faceting

A man recently came to Kings Creek Pottery asking if I would do a custom order for his wife's 50th birthday. In his hand was a mug I made three or four years ago. He wondered if I would make four more with matching bowls and plates. My response: "Of course I will!"

It has been that many years since I used the particular technique needed to recreate the look for the set. Besides my hands, the main tool in the process is a twisted wire.

To facet, the pots must be thrown thicker than usual to allow for cutting away sections of the pot. Throw a cylinder, with the rim close to the size you want it. The body of the cylinder will be slightly angled outward to allow for cutting away the segments. 

(click on photos for a close up look)

As the wire is dragged down the pot, I use a zig zag motion to add to the texture of the pot. You can see where I have left space for the lip of the pot, which does not get textured.  To make the wire cut cleanly, I dip it in the water dish after each slice. 

Once the faceting is finished it is time to shape the pot. The pot can only be shaped from the inside, which is more challenging than traditional throwing.  Push out gently, while keeping the lip of the pot steady provides shape.

 

Finally I shape the lip. The cylinder, now a mug, is ready to dry to the leather hard stage. When leather hard it will then be trimmed and given a proper handle.

The mug can now rest up before hitting the kiln for the bisque fire!