What Is a Potter's Wheel?

People who throw pottery use a potter's wheel to shape clay into a variety of ceramic items. The potter's wheel is a machine that rotates at different speeds to help the potter create round shapes more quickly than would be possible if working without the potter's wheel.

History

The potter's wheel dates back thousands of years. It was originally used to rotate the work surface while the potter coiled clay around to make clay pots. By using the potter's wheel the potter did not have to continuously walk around the pot while coiling.

Use

A lump of clay is placed into the center work area of the potter's wheel. While the potter's wheel rotates, the potter pushes and molds the clay so that it is symmetrical. By applying more or less pressure, the potter can shape the clay into taller pots or wider pots and thicker pots or thinner pots. The potter continues to add water to keep the clay moist as it is being shaped. The potter also varies the speed of the wheel to create different shapes as the pottery is being formed.

Making Large Pots

The technique for making very large pots involves starting the pot with a typical lump of clay and then continually adding more clay as the preceding lump is used. If two potters work together on one pottery wheel it is possible to create pottery that is as high as 4 feet. Each section must be allowed to set before the next section can be created.

Electric Potter's Wheel

An electric potter's wheels is powered by an electric foot pedal to control the speed of the wheel. Electric potter's wheels are generally smaller and lighter than their nonelectric counterparts. Many are portable. Using an electric potter's wheel also speeds up the pot-throwing process, allowing the pottery to create more pottery in a shorter amount of time.

Kickwheel Potter's Wheel

A kickwheel potter's wheel is powered by pressing on a pedal. The potter sits at the wheel and uses his feet to rotate the wheel. The force of the potter's feet can determine the speed at which the potter's wheel rotates. This type of potter's wheel is much larger and heavier and cannot easily be transported.