How to Make a Coiled Vase

You can sculpt clay coils into a decorative vase.

Humans have been sculpting clay into vessels, such as pots and vases, for thousands of years, and these clay vases were used to carry water and store grain. In modern times, sculpted vases serve a more decorative purpose. You can make a simple clay vase using coils; this method eliminates the need for a pottery wheel.

Things You'll Need

• Block of clay
• Rolling pin
• Cookie cutter

Instructions

1. Plan the design of your clay vase. The base will need to be large enough to support the width and height of the clay coils; if it is too narrow, the vase may cave in.Additionally, the taller you want the vase to be, the larger the base will need to be to support the sides and prevent it from tipping over. For example, if you want your vase to be 8 inches tall, make your vase's base 6 inches in diameter.

2. Create the bottom of the vase. Roll out a ball of clay with a rolling pin until it is flat; it should be about a 1/4 of an inch thick. Use a cookie cutter to cut a circle out of the clay.

3. Pull a chunk of clay from the block. Roll the clay between your palms using gentle, even pressure to form a long rope-like coil, just a little thicker than the thickness of a pencil. Make several more coils to start with.

4. Take one of the coils and wind it around the edge of the base. Scrape the clay from the coil down to mold it with the base, smoothing it down with your finger. Place another coil directly on top of the first coil and smooth it down onto the first one.

5. Continue placing coils and smoothing them down. Vary the width of the coils by making them wider or narrower to give the vase a curved shape. Use your hands to mold the coils inward and outward to achieve an hourglass-shaped vase. The mouth of the vase should be narrower than the base.

6. Smooth the outside of the vase using your fingers; you should barely be able to see the outline of the individual coils.

7. Turn the vase upside down and press the mouth against a flat surface to create a smooth, even lip.

8. Let the clay vase dry overnight. If desired, paint the vase with acrylic paints, adding patterns and designs by painting them freehand or by using stencils.

References

• Pottery Tutorial: Coil Construction