About This Book
This practical guide introduces clay types, their mineral components, and necessary tools and tempers, explaining how material properties affect plasticity and firing. It provides step-by-step techniques for hand-building and wheel-throwing, with illustrated sequences for coils and shaping. Decoration and glazing methods are described alongside recipes for glazes and advice on application and firing temperatures. The text includes instructions for making plaster moulds and tiles and for constructing and operating a kiln. It also presents basket-covered techniques, surveys indigenous pottery practices, and outlines contemporary American studio approaches, emphasizing the balance of utility and aesthetic design for beginners.