POTTERY is the craft of making vessels by shaping wet clay and allowing it to dry. The formed clay, or piece, may be "bisque fired" in a kiln to harden it, and then fired a second time after adding a glaze.

The production of pottery is one of the most ancient arts. The oldest known body of pottery dates from the Jomon period (from about 10,500 to 400 BC) in Japan.

Pottery comprises of three distinctive types of wares.

The first type, earthenware, has been made following
the same techniques since ancient times.

After the invention of glazing, earthenwares were coated with glaze to render them waterproof and to add decoration.

It was found that, when fired at great heat, the clay body became nonporous. This second type of pottery, called stoneware, came to be preferred for domestic use.

The third type of pottery is a Chinese invention that appeared when feldspathic material in a fusible state was incorporated in a stoneware composition.

The key to successful pottery making is the correct composition of the clay body by using balanced materials; skill in shaping the wet clay on the wheel or pressing it into molds; and, most importantly, firing at the correct temperature. The last operation depends on the experience, judgement and technical skill of the potter.

Join us and rediscover the fun of playing with mud and "throwing" your own pots !

Earthenware is basically composed of clay and baked hard, the degree of hardness depending on the intensity of the heat.