Matt Grimmitt slipping salt piglets at Winchcombe Pottery
The next few posts will be videos of slipping and combing pots. This one is of Matt slipping salt piglets, otherwise known as boobs. They really do look like boobs.
They are tricky shapes to produce. As a form they have to be closed in, leaving enough clay at the top to make a nob (or nipple). Matt trims them in a chuck and cuts a large-ish hole in one side and pierces a small hole in the other side. This is so you can use the small hole to shake salt out or take pinches of salt with your fingers.
In order to slip them Matt uses a bung to block up the larger hole. He blocks the little hole with a finger. This is so no slip gets inside the piglet. Then they are placed on a chuck to be combed.
They are tricky shapes to produce. As a form they have to be closed in, leaving enough clay at the top to make a nob (or nipple). Matt trims them in a chuck and cuts a large-ish hole in one side and pierces a small hole in the other side. This is so you can use the small hole to shake salt out or take pinches of salt with your fingers.
In order to slip them Matt uses a bung to block up the larger hole. He blocks the little hole with a finger. This is so no slip gets inside the piglet. Then they are placed on a chuck to be combed.
John Forster handling one pint jugs at Winchcombe Pottery
Handling jugs. Ah.
The life of a potter isn't so bad.
As the Winchcombe jug maestro, John has a lot of experience handling jugs.
A fellow from the Tewkesbury Mustard Company showed up as I was filming this and Mike F came in to interrupt John with questions about the order of mustard pots. Being in production mode John manages to answer whilst finishing the handle. Multitasking!
The life of a potter isn't so bad.
As the Winchcombe jug maestro, John has a lot of experience handling jugs.
A fellow from the Tewkesbury Mustard Company showed up as I was filming this and Mike F came in to interrupt John with questions about the order of mustard pots. Being in production mode John manages to answer whilst finishing the handle. Multitasking!
Matt Grimmitt throwing a charger at Winchcombe Pottery
On my final day at Winchcombe I got the chance to try my hand at throwing chargers. I watched Matt do the business and then had a go myself. In the past I have had trouble with them collapsing, but I did not find it so hard this time.
For those not in the know, chargers are basically large plates. According to Wikipedia the word charger originated in England between 1275-1325 from the middle english "chargeour." They are an excellent canvas for decoration, being so large and having a deep flat lip. I intend to make some slipware chargers as soon as I can and play around with slip trailing/feathering.
You will see in the video that Matt throws the lip at a raised angle. This is because our clay tends to slump a little in the firing. This would not be an issue with earthenware and you could throw them the finished shape. Youtube has informed me that the video has been banned in German... not entirely sure why but if there are any Germans out there who desperately want to watch it send me an email!
For those not in the know, chargers are basically large plates. According to Wikipedia the word charger originated in England between 1275-1325 from the middle english "chargeour." They are an excellent canvas for decoration, being so large and having a deep flat lip. I intend to make some slipware chargers as soon as I can and play around with slip trailing/feathering.
You will see in the video that Matt throws the lip at a raised angle. This is because our clay tends to slump a little in the firing. This would not be an issue with earthenware and you could throw them the finished shape. Youtube has informed me that the video has been banned in German... not entirely sure why but if there are any Germans out there who desperately want to watch it send me an email!
John Forster throwing a three pint jug at Winchcombe Pottery PART 2
Here's the second part of John throwing the three pint jug:
John Forster throwing a three pint jug at Winchcombe Pottery PART 1
John Forster is the jug man at Winchcombe Pottery. He produces tiny creamers, half pint jugs, one pint jugs, two pint jugs, three pint jugs and occasionally larger ones too. I decided to film the three pint jug production, mostly because they are impressively large when first thrown and you can see the process easier on video.
The most amazing part of being at Winchcombe is that the forms being thrown today have been in production for years. Much of the range was started by Michael Cardew in the 1920's. Throughout time a plethora of different potters have taken on each form, giving it their own feeling but sticking to a set of dimensions and quantity of clay.
John has the unenviable position of making jugs in Ray Finch's wake. Ray's jugs were truly magnificent and very distinctive. John makes lovely jugs too as you will see in the video, with his own style imprinted upon them.
Having attempted a few jugs myself I know how challenging they are. You really need to keep some weight in the shoulder so they don't collapse when you collar them in. Spouts are a mine field too!
For some reason it does not want to embed the video but here's the link to youtube:
The most amazing part of being at Winchcombe is that the forms being thrown today have been in production for years. Much of the range was started by Michael Cardew in the 1920's. Throughout time a plethora of different potters have taken on each form, giving it their own feeling but sticking to a set of dimensions and quantity of clay.
John has the unenviable position of making jugs in Ray Finch's wake. Ray's jugs were truly magnificent and very distinctive. John makes lovely jugs too as you will see in the video, with his own style imprinted upon them.
Having attempted a few jugs myself I know how challenging they are. You really need to keep some weight in the shoulder so they don't collapse when you collar them in. Spouts are a mine field too!
For some reason it does not want to embed the video but here's the link to youtube:
Mike Finch throwing a salad bowl at Winchcombe Pottery
I realise now that I should have taken more videos of Mike F throwing. This is the only one I have in fact. Somehow he always had me busy with other tasks when he was at the wheel. However, on one of my last days at Winchcombe I did interview with him (in three parts) and will be posting these videos soon.
I did spend some time watching Mike throwing though. He is a fantastic thrower, seeming to churn out pots without any effort at all. His wheel is always surprisingly slow and his moves smooth and relaxed. It really does seem effortless. Something to remember when I am perspiring over a rapidly spinning pot.
I did spend some time watching Mike throwing though. He is a fantastic thrower, seeming to churn out pots without any effort at all. His wheel is always surprisingly slow and his moves smooth and relaxed. It really does seem effortless. Something to remember when I am perspiring over a rapidly spinning pot.