How to Make Medieval Pottery
- 1). Sponge water over a large ball of clay. Knead the clay to eliminate air bubbles. Throw the ball onto the pottery wheel so that it is rounded on top and flat where it hits the wheel.
- 2). Place one hand lightly against the clay mound and spin the wheel with the other. Smooth the mound into a cylindrical shape. Press a thumb into the center of the clay mound while turning the wheel. Gently pull the thumb back toward the rest of the hand to form the sides and bottom of the jug.
- 3). Wet hands and gently press the sides of the jug between the thumbs and palms while spinning the wheel. Pull up gently while pressing to make the jug taller and thin the sides. The sides should be about ¼ inch thick.
- 4). Spin the wheel and cup both hands around the top of the jug, pushing in and up gently. This should pull some clay up to form the narrow neck to the jug. Spin the wheel and cup both hands around the bottom of the jug, gently pushing up. Follow the shape of the jug upward, gently guiding clay up until the jug is the desired height.
- 5). Spin the wheel and use the rim--a sharpened piece of hardwood--to scrape away a thin layer of the wet surface. Remove the jug from the wheel by sliding the knife under the bottom while the wheel spins. Heat the kiln to 1,000 degrees Celsius. Bake jug for about 12 hours; allow it to cool for same amount of time.
Source...