Potter's Wheel

Definition

A potter's wheel is a device used by potters to create various ceramic forms. It consists of a horizontal rotating platform, known as the wheel head, which is driven by either a motor or the potter's own manual rotation. The potter's wheel allows the potter to shape and mold clay into desired forms through the application of centrifugal force and manual manipulation.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The potter's wheel allows the potter to create symmetrical and uniform ceramic forms by applying centrifugal force to the clay.
2. The speed of the wheel's rotation, along with the potter's hand movements, determines the shape and thickness of the final ceramic piece.
3. Potters can use various techniques, such as centering the clay, opening the clay, and pulling the walls, to shape the clay on the wheel.
4. The potter's wheel is a crucial tool in the ceramic-making process, as it enables the creation of a wide range of functional and decorative pottery items.
5. The use of the potter's wheel dates back thousands of years and has been an integral part of many ancient and contemporary pottery traditions around the world.

Review Questions

• Explain how the potter's wheel allows the potter to create symmetrical and uniform ceramic forms.
  • The potter's wheel utilizes centrifugal force to help the potter shape the clay into symmetrical and uniform forms. As the wheel rotates, the clay is subjected to an outward force, which allows the potter to apply pressure and manipulate the clay into the desired shape. The rotation of the wheel, combined with the potter's hand movements, enables the creation of symmetrical and consistent ceramic pieces, such as bowls, vases, and cups.
• Describe the different techniques potters use to shape the clay on the potter's wheel.
  • Potters employ a variety of techniques to shape the clay on the potter's wheel. These include centering the clay, which involves positioning the clay in the center of the wheel head; opening the clay, which creates a depression in the center of the clay; and pulling the walls, which involves using the hands to stretch and shape the clay into the desired form. The speed of the wheel's rotation, along with the potter's hand movements, determines the final shape and thickness of the ceramic piece.
• Analyze the historical significance of the potter's wheel and its role in the development of ceramic-making traditions around the world.
  • The potter's wheel has been a crucial tool in the ceramic-making process for thousands of years, playing a significant role in the development of various pottery traditions around the world. The use of the potter's wheel has allowed potters to create a wide range of functional and decorative ceramic forms, from simple utilitarian objects to intricate and ornate pieces. The ability to produce symmetrical and uniform pottery through the use of the wheel has been a hallmark of many ancient and contemporary ceramic-making cultures, reflecting the technological and artistic advancements in the field of pottery. The continued use of the potter's wheel in modern times underscores its enduring importance in the ceramic-making process and its lasting impact on the evolution of pottery as an art form.

Related terms

Centrifugal Force:

The outward force exerted on an object rotating around a central point, which helps the potter shape the clay on the wheel.

Wheel Head: The horizontal rotating platform of the potter's wheel where the clay is placed and shaped.

Pottery Throwing: The process of shaping clay on a potter's wheel to create various ceramic forms, such as bowls, vases, and cups.