THE POTTER'S AKT. 



3. The moulder's shop is represented in fig. 35, at the head of 

 Chap. IY. 



The work of the moulder consists of two processes ; first, to 

 impart the desired form to the piece ; and secondly, to adapt and 

 attach to the principal piece its various accessories, which are sepa- 

 rately moulded or cast, such as handles, spouts, ears, &c. 



The operative, A, places on a marble slab before which he stands 

 a mass of dough which he flattens with a rolling-pin. Each end 

 of the pin rests upon a lath by which it is prevented from pressing 

 the dough below a certain thickness, and which also gives it a 

 perfectly even motion, so that the cake of dough is not only of 

 uniform thickness, but has also a perfectly even and uniform 

 surface. This uniformity of surface on the under side it receives 

 by pressure on the slab, and on the upper side by the regulated 

 action of the roller. 



Under the cake of dough, and between it and the slab, is pre- 

 viously spread a cloth, 6, upon which it rests. By means of this 

 cloth the operative is enabled to raise the dough from the slab 

 without deranging its form. 



The operative, B, having received it from A, thus supported by 

 the cloth b, places it upon the mould, which, as here represented, 

 will produce the inner or concave surface of a vase or cup, having 

 a sort of fluted form. When the mould is completely covered 

 with the dough, the operative, c, presses the dough strongly upon it 

 with a sponge, so as to force it into exact contact with the most 

 minute cavities of the mould. To accomplish this the more easily, 

 the mould is placed upon the circular slab, p, supported on a 

 vertical pillar, /, with which it turns freely, so that every side of 

 the article to be moulded is brought successively under the hand 

 of the operative. 



Plates, dishes, and saucers, and in general the class of articles 

 denominated "flat ware," are made from moulds, by which the 

 inside or concave surface of the article is formed. The form is 

 imparted to the convex surface by means of profiles usually made 

 of fired clay and glazed. After the proper convex form is given 

 by the turner c by means of the profile, the mould, with the 

 article still upon it, is taken to the hot-air chamber, where it 

 remains till it is tolerably dry. It is then brought back to the 

 turner c, and the profile is again passed over it, by which the 

 inaccuracies of form consequent upon shrinkage are corrected. 



The operative, G, has just moulded or cast a handle from 

 which he is removing the superfluous and excrescent parts 

 with a tool, and cleaning out its cavities. He is about to attach 

 it to the vase, as he has already done with the other handle. 

 This he accomplishes by moistening, with the creamy liquid 

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