The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-10-06
POTTERS AT WORK
SKILL WITH WHICH VESSELS ARE
SHAPED FROM THE CLAY.

n Description which Recalls LousfetloW
-Sonx of the Potter" .r.rn. Turn. MP
Wheel; All Things Must Change TO Some
thing New. to Something strange
Let US watch \ potter nc his wheel. The
apparatus before him is simple, consisting
OF a bench, let into the top OF which Is q
horizontal wheel revolving by treadle.
At his right is n tank OF water, near which
are piled humps of finely ground wet clay.
wet 10 the right consiStenoe. Zach wei as
/ \ pounds
Al his left Is board holding six pots
Just from the wheel Behind him Is
framework ON which boards are placed n
fast aS filed, that the pots may dry bcford
baking They are the inch hanging
pots, and the making Of one includes
nearly all the processes in uSe Tor making
any kind OF fiowcrpot expecting those
made in TnoldS
The potter drops lump Of clay on the
cenSr OF the moving wheel. shauing 10
with both hands 10 the form OF n short
thick cylinder. which, while turning even
~ and rapidly, Is followed at the top by
the fingers and widcned slightly, leayins
IL like rude cup several inches high A
few downward strokes around the base
spread out the allowance Of clay for tho
saucer fat upon tho wheel
Then this whirling cup begins TO rise
higher and thinner under the pottc-'s fin
gers, the circle Of the rim growing widen
and wider till the cup changes 20 an old
fashioned winegiasS, with its Hat stand
ard, very short. thick stem and funnel
shaped upper part But this form alters
as. with wet fingers and sometimes with a
wet wooden scraper, the potter presses
against the inner side till. rising higher
aud swelling outward, IL gains beauti-
fully rounded outline and is the desired
size. The edge Is turned over at right an
giles and wet and smoothed with the
scraper till a perfect rim an inch or more
wide is formed. Then for the first time
the wheel Is still, while the drainage hole
just above the saucer Is punched with .
pointed stick from the outside thus lssv-
ing the outer surface smooth. though the
inner is rough.
In the same way tho holes for chains IN
the rim OF tho pot are made. the wheel
revolving slowly while the distance be-
tween them is measured accurately and
quickly by the eve.
Next the rim of the saucer is turned up
ward and smoOthed like the upper rim.
touch and turns very slowly as the rim il
crimped with thumb and finger, the num-
Der OF scallops coming out even at the end
with no gap between OF any too near to-
gether.
With a quick motion n wet string. held
taut, cuts tho bottom OF the sauosr from
the wheel, and the finished pot is lifted to
the board
The whole process has taken only I
minute and IL seconds. Truly the work
seems done rs by magic. 1t IL as fascinat-
ing 10 watch "a glass blowing. being not
an exhibition Of strength or OF mechanical
precision, but Of pure skill in handiwork
Most OF the nowerpots now made are
shaped in plaster Of paris noldS. These
are IN three sections, shaped inside like
the bottom and sides OF n pot, are yer,
thick ana are held together by means OF
corresponding projections and depressions
in their edges. Often the inner surfnce
has fancy pattorD. which, being depross-
ed into the mold, appears raised en- thu
pot Rustic pots are made in this wav \
favori;e design Is a vine around the rim,
the rest OF the surface showing a repousso
effect
The process OF nolding IL short and
easy. There IS the Same
horizontal wheel, though turned By ma
chincry. Tho mold holding tho right
quantity OF clay il placed firmly upon tho
wheel While Ia rapid motion the cpcr-
atOr presses against tho inside th!n
wooden piece suspended from above, shap-
ed like a half section Of the inside Of tho
pot Held firmly against the whirling
mold, IL forces the clay inrp the desired
shape in a few seconds.
After the porus mold has absorbed the
moisture the pot Is taken out and whiried
rapidly, while "A cutting metal esigo 10
held against IL, trimming the ragged
'dge of the rim and throwing IL of in
hin clay ribbon
The part Of the mold not fitting perfect
y. the clay forced into the era Is has % D.
'ut away, after which tho pot l. ready Cor
Jakins.
Pieces 70 be glazed on the inside haze n
hin brown glazing miIture poured into
hem. shaken and turned out When bak-
u, they are ready for decoration.
The pots To be oolorod are dipped IN
arge pail OF paint and turned % drain
lpOn rack over a shallow box which
lants toward and drains into another
'aiI, which. when fun, IL emptisd into the
Irst, thus applying the paint evenly and
uickly and with little waste. The inner
dyes are painted BY hand befors the ware
baked
Around the great circular furnaces are
uilt thick parallel walls % the kilns,
eaching 20 the ceiling. and in this space.
srhaps thrs or four feet wide, the pottery
o b. burnt IL carefully piled. the thick
oors shut, the heat gradually raissd %
BE- night point and a. slowly cooled
Large towerpots are piled one On an
tber, every other pot beinR inverted Civ
az The effect ~ rows Of fantastic pillars
belvcs built 81 blocks % Gre hrfck suppcrs
Their kinds 81 pottery. Ssuoers are st ca
heir rjms in horizontal rows
The implanted clay wares require for
asir frat baking beat q 2. 800 tezr-es
I'd tbs decorated wars n hsat - 2 90
egrees The drgres % beat IL sstirnsssd
y experimenting with substances which
re known o. melt % certain Temperatures.
Around these fgguAoea glowing ~its
bite hat the wars are kept Is hours for
fr-t taking and from four 20 AZ hgars
y sahsequeDt firms. az required after
acOraii9r.
The nd coior - taked clay r. due - the
-rsenoe II tie clay q oxise "a irea -
uflpcE
The King .at ia. vziss.
T<Tufs ~ EfrR II Frzrnr kaS for kfa