How to Make a Clay Pottery Impression

You can make impressions in a clay pot with any solid object.

The term "pottery" refers to fired ceramic wares that contain clay when they are originally being formed. Clay is among the oldest building materials used by humans and is still used to create pots, planters and other items. If you are in the process of making a clay pot and want to distinguish it from others when it is displayed, use solid objects to make impressions in the finished pot before it is put into the kiln for hardening.

Things You'll Need

• Unhardened clay pot
• Impression object

Instructions

1. Shape and fashion your clay into the mold for the pot you desire.

2. Place your impression object, such as a leaf, pine cone, or metallic stamp, against the location on the surface of the pot where you wish to make the impression. Apply gentle pressure.

3. Repeat Step 2 at each location you want to make an impression.

4. Examine the interior surface of the pot for any deformations made from the application of the impression. Mold the deformed areas accordingly. As long as you do not touch the outside surface, your impressions should remain intact.

5. Fire the finished clay in your kiln to complete your textured pot.

References

• Infinity Stamps; Marking Soft Materials Such as Clay