Wheel Thrown Pottery

The potter's wheel, as we know it today, evolved from the ancient turntable. Turntables have been used since about 4,000 BC to help potters smooth and round out vessels constructed from coils of clay. Turntables or slow spinning potters' wheels are still used today to aid the forming of large coil-built vessels.Ancient potters (see illus.1) were able to throw small pots or vessel parts, such as necks and spouts from small mounds of clay using turntables. .

The first true potter's wheels were driven by heavy flywheels, kicked by the potter's foot until enough enertia was generated to sustain a spinning speed capable of quickly centering a lump of clay with both hands (see illus. 2.). Even though today's electric potter's wheels are greatly improved over their human-powered predecessors, kickwheels are still very popular.

Students in the Studio in Ceramics program at Fayetteville-Manlius High School are first introduced to the use of the potter's wheel as an aid in constructing large coil-built vessels. Students study a variety of ancient cultures that produced classical vessel shapes (see Coil-built Vessels). Later on in the school year, beginning students are encouraged to try the potter's wheel. Some opt to dedicate themselves to the disciplined practice that is required to reach a basic level of competency. Students in the second year Advanced Studio in Ceramics course may opt to specialize in wheel throwing. They are expected to reach a level of proficiency that enables them to create unique pottery and sculptural assemblages made from wheel thrown elements. Each advanced students is also expected to study the pottery of a particular potter, pottery studio or pottery making culture in order to gain insight about historically important pottery styles and firing techniques, such as those of Shoji Hamada and George Ohr (see illus. #3 & #4).