Pottery, an ancient and rich art, involves crafting diverse objects with ceramic materials like clay.

Items range from daily necessities to artworks and sculptures.

Main Steps of Pottery:

Preparing Materials: Pottery begins with selecting and preparing clay, a highly plastic soil shaped by hand-kneading.

Modeling: Artists use hand techniques to create desired shapes, allowing for creative expression through various ideas.

Drying: After modeling, pieces naturally dry at room temperature to prevent cracking during firing.

Decoration: Before complete drying, artists may decorate surfaces with scoring, painting, or glazes.

Firing: Pottery undergoes firing in a kiln, where clay hardens, and decorations and glazes meld at high temperatures.

Glazing: Some ceramics receive glaze coatings pre-firing for specific textures and colors, with glaze treatment crucial for the final look.

10 Whys in Pottery:

1. Why Cracking After Firing?

Uneven control of clay dryness and humidity during creation.

Thin thickness.

Internal injuries pre-firing.

Rescue Method: Maintain optimal moisture; smooth cracks with water; fill and smooth with thicker mud if cracked.

2. Why Clay Tablets Shrink After Drying?

Clay tablets naturally shrink after drying and firing.

Rescue Method: Use a water-absorbing wooden board for cooling; to prevent warping and deformation during drying.

3. Why Does Blank Turn Yellow Over Time?

Yellowing due to oxidation with air (moisture, dust) during long-term storage.

No impact on the final firing; can be glazed and fired after replenishing water.

4. Why Does Newly Purchased Mud Dry Quickly?

Mud is composed of water and soil, leading to normal water evaporation.

Rescue Method: Add water to bulk mud; store in a cool place; refine and recycle waste mud.

5. Why Isn't the Purchased Mud Material White?

Whiteness varies based on clay-producing areas.

Quality judgment after firing; better quality porcelain clay yields whiter results.

6. Why Aren't Burned Works White Enough?

Different types of porcelain clay are based on processing and iron removal.

Varying standards among manufacturers; firing temperature influences whiteness.

7. Why Do Mud Colors Differ Inside and Outside?

Mud's water content results in color differences due to varying dryness and humidity.

No impact on use; knead thoroughly before making.

8. Why Were Works Burned?

Excessive temperature exceeding the clay material's maximum resistance results in carbonization or melting.

Rescue Method: Set kiln temperature according to mud material characteristics; avoid excessive heat.

9. Why Does Carcass Burst After Burning?

Neat fractures due to fast cooling, unsatisfactory base-glaze bonding, and internal base damage pre-firing.

Solution: Slow down the cooling rate.

10. What Causes Glaze to Flow and Clump After Firing?

Glaze flows to the bottom due to high kiln temperature and insufficient scraping.

Rescue Method: Adjust kiln temperature; ensure proper glaze application and scraping.

Ceramics, an ancient art form, serves both practical and artistic purposes, reflecting creativity and aesthetics while preserving cultural heritage across regions and periods.