This is made specially for beginners. Watch the whole series before starting the work. Have also tools and clay prepared first. Enjoy it
History. • The proper way to form (as they did in the past ) this • • •
pot is to start with the edge and then make the body, when the edge is firm after a little while. This is a bit difficult for beginners. Here I work on the body first and make the edge last. You have to be aware, these pots are fragile! Earlier ( In history 1500 – 1900 ) one thought it was fine if a pot lasted a whole year. The next time you attended a fair, you just bought a new one.
Stjertpotte. ( Pot with a handle ) • 1750 gram sandmixed
•
clay ( 20 – 25 % sand + 75 – 80 % clay) enough for 6 pots. You have to knead the clay properly 4 – 5 times.
• The tools needed. • 2 or 3 people can •
share the tools while working. Don’t work too fast or the quality of the pot will be poor.
• The clay is formed in one roll and sliced into 6 equal parts.
• Press your thumbs
•
down in the center and pinch carefully – many times – all the way around the pot. Don’t use the fingertips but the broad part of the fingers.
• Use the four ”long”
fingers pressing on the outside, while the pot is ”hanging” on your thumb. • The aim is to form half a sphere ( form like half a ball ).
• Slowly the ”wall” is •
getting thinner. You have to do it many times, before it is thin like here.
• With the spoon you now press against your rounded hand holding the pot.
• Like this you bend the
edge gently against the center. • While you are pressing move your hands a bit against each other. • Remember – many times – all the way around.
• Using the three first • •
fingers you now for like a ditch. This is the best way to use the wet cloth. Don’t make it too wet!
• Have the unused part
of the cloth placed between your last two fingers.
• Now the position of •
the fingers is ok. For the wet cloth you use slip ( slip = a creamlike mixture of clay +water )
• The edge is now nice.
Even thickness and same hight all around. • The halfsphere is now flat underneath, but that’s ok. • Don’t bend the edge out yet.
• After all the moisture
•
that has been added Slip – The pots need time to get firm. Plain water is NOT to be used.
• After a little time. • The outside i made
smooth with a knife.
• Smooth all your •
fingerprints away. Use the knife as when you are using it for butter.
• Using the spoon you make the surface of the pot inside smooth.
• Now switch to a
bigger spoon, and we almost have half a sphere.
• The next thing to do is to create a fine edge.
• Make the edge • •
standing right up in the air. If the clay gets too dry – use the wet cloth right away. Cracks on the edge are difficult to mend.
• Bend the edge to 45 •
degrees. Here you use the first three fingers of each hand.
• The cloth is ready, •
place it like before. Soon you have done a fine edge.
• Gently you bend a
•
part of the edge for pouring the melted butter. ( This pot were used for melted butter to the potatoes ) Time for a pause – Wait a while again.
• It’s nice outside on a sunny
summerday. • But mind the wind and especially the sun. • You have to be VERY skilled not to get serious problems otherwise. • Always have some plastic at hand to cover the pot if you walk away and don’t want the pot to get firm/dry.
• Here you see some •
small cracks. Use a bit of your slip and the knife to close these, but be careful to do it properly.
• A nice bottom is •
made using the spoon. Now you are going to put a handle on the pot.
• A roll of clay is
compressed in one end and a pencil is gently put through.
• Turn the pencil while
doing this and only allow the tip of the pencil to get through.
• Holding the pencil you now carefully roll a bit.
• The handle is formed •
like this. The outer part is made a bit more wide at the edge.
• On the upper part of
the handle you place an ornament like this.
• Use slip for placing
the handle at the pot.
• Make sure to get pot and handle i a good connection – use the knife.
• If the work isn’t done
properly the handle is going to crack in the fireing.
• Use small and many movements placing the handle.
• Take a look – check for cracks.
• For the feet. • Three pieces are cut.
• Pinch the form
• Roll a bit.
• Where do we put •
them? The tradition is always to place one foot under the handle.
• When the feet are
placed and have had a time to get firm… • They are cut so it appears they have 5 sides. • This tradition is placed near the town Varde in Westjutland, Denmark.
• This form were used •
in many different sizes. Behind the -stjertpotter- you can see some other small pots.
• Inside the pot you
now use the spoon to take clay away until you can feel it through the thin ”claywall” • Concentrate!! • Do you make your way through the clay it’s impossible to rescue the pot!!
• When the pots are firm
like leather, you find a smooth and hard thing to use for drawing the ornaments • Spiral – oval – circlecross were used. • A visit to museums might be an good idea.
Advice? - Help? • Send an e-mail, if you have any trouble or do you want these instructions on a CD? oleflemming@yahoo.dk
• GOOD LUCK