How to Make China Pottery

china paint on a piece of pottery

China is a type of pottery that has been produced for centuries in China. While there are many types of pottery that have been produced in China over the years, the archetypal pottery called china has distinct qualities based on the clay body, forms and glazes used. China is made from Chinese porcelain with a high fire base glaze and low fire paint. More modern types of china are produced with Chinese porcelain and a celadon-type glaze. Creating China pottery requires skill and experience making pottery.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Chinese porcelain
• High fire glaze
• Celadon glaze
• China paint
• Luster paint
• Pottery tools
• Potter's wheel

China Pottery

1. Make sure the porcelain you buy is Chinese porcelain and not English porcelain. Chinese porcelain is much whiter and purer than English porcelain. The glazes you purchased should also be calculated to fit the porcelain you purchase, otherwise you might have a problem when you fire your finished pottery.

2. Knead and divide the clay. Knead the clay on a clean surface, free of residue from other clay bodies to keep the Chinese porcelain pure and clean from any contaminants. Knead the clay thoroughly to get any unwanted air bubbles out of the clay. Divide the clay into balls large enough for the pieces you plan to make.

3. Throw the clay on the wheel. Place the ball of clay firmly on the wheel. Place a bit of water on the clay and center the clay on the wheel. Push on the ball with even pressure away from you as the wheel spins to do this. Once centered, create the shape you desire. If creating a bowl, begin to apply pressure to the center of the ball of clay until you are an inch away from the wheel. This will provide space for the foot of the bowl to be trimmed. Begin to pull the sides of the bowl up, applying even pressure to both the inside and outside of the bowl, shaping as you create the pottery. Continue until your desired shape has been created.

4. Trim the bowl once the clay is firm enough. This will generally take a few days, loosely covered with plastic depending on the weather and humidity of the piece. Place the piece upside down, centered on the wheel and hold in place with bits of wet clay. Once secure, use trimming tools to create the bottom of the piece.

5. Once thoroughly dry, bisque fire, then glaze your piece with a high fire, cone 10, glaze. If you plan to create a more modern piece, glaze with a celadon glaze. If you plan to create a more decorative and traditional piece of China pottery, use a base colored glazed and fire the piece to cone 10.

6. Mix powdered china paint with the oil to the desired consistency. Using a fine brush, apply the paint in a decorative pattern onto the surface of the high-fire glaze. Complete the design and fire to cone 018. If you desire silver and gold on your piece of China pottery, use luster paint. Apply the luster on top of the china paint in the desired pattern and fire to cone 018.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure your tools and wheel are clean before starting.

• Make sure your clay body and glaze are compatible.

• Use a respirator when applying glaze, china paint and luster glaze.

References

• Chinese Pottery
• Chinese Glaze Information

Resources

• China Paint Tutorial