The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-14
MAKING A FtowER Por,
An Operation as Fascinating to Watch
40 Glass Blowing.
From the Outlook.

From the Outlook.
CHOW Flower Pots are Nader" Let US
watch potter at his wheel The appa-
ratus before him is simple, consisting of
a bench, let into the top of which is a
horizontal wheel revolving by treadle
At his right is tank of water, near
which are piled Jumps of Underground
wet clay, wet to the right consistence.
Each weighs pound and half.
At his left is a board holding six pots
just from the Wheel Behind him is a
framework on which boards are placed as
| fast as filled, that the pots may dry be-
fore baking. They are the 9-inch hang
ing pots, and the making of one includes
nearly all the processes in use for max
ing any kind of flower pot, excepting
| those made i'll moulds.
| The potter drops q lump of clay on the
center of the moving wheel shaping it
with both hands to the form of a short,
| thick cylinder, which, while turning
| evenly and rapidly, is followed no the top
! by the fingers ana widened slightly, leav-
ing it like a rude cup several inches high.
| A few downward strokes around the base
1 spread out the allowance of clay for the
] saucer fat upon the wheel.
| Then this whirliug cup begins to rise
! higher and thinner under the potter S
| fingers, the circle of the rim growing
| wider and wider, till the cup changes to
| an Old-fashioned wineglass, with its fat
| standard, very short, thick stem and
| funnel-shaped upper part. But this form
| alters as, with wet fingers, and some
! timesiwith wooden scraper, the potter
| presses against the inner side, till, rising
| higher and swelling. outward, it gains a
! beautifully rounded outline and is
! the desired size. The edge is
| turned over at right angles and wetted
and smOothed with the scraper till per-
| feet 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 leaving the outer
surface smooth, though the inner is
rough
In the same way the holes for chains in
the rim of the pot are made, the wheel
! revolving slowly while the distance be-
tween them is measured accurately and
| quickly by the eye.
! Next the rim of the saucer is turned
| upward and smoothed like the upper rim
! The pot is now ready for the finishing
! touch, and turns very slowly as the rim
is crimped with thumb and finger, the
numb Der of scallOps coming out even at
the end with no gap between or any too
near together
With a quick motion wet string held
taut cuts the bottom Of the saucer from
the wheel, and the finished pot is lifted
TO the board.
The whole process has taken only one
minute and twelve seconds. Truly the
work seems done as by magic. 1t is as
fascinating to watch as glass blowing, be-
ing not an exhibition of strength or me-
chanical precision, but of pure skill in
handiworb
Most of the flower pots now made are
shaped in plaster of paris moulds. These
are in three sections shaped inside like
the bottom and sides of a pot, are very
thick, and are held together by means of
corresponding projections and depressions
IN their edges Often the inner surface
has fancy pattern, which, being de-
pressed into the mould, appears raised on
the pot. Rustic pots are made in this
way. A favoriJe design is vine around
the rim, the rest of the surface showing
a repousse eject.
THE PROCESS OF MOULDING.
The process of moulding is short and
comparatively easy There is the same
| horizontal wheel, though turned by ma
chinery The mould, holding the right
! quantity of clay, is placed firmly upon
the wheel. While In rapid motion the
! operator presses against the inside a thin
| wooden piece suspended from above,
| shaped like half section Of the inside Of
the pct Held firmly against the whirling