192 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



May, 19 10 



Some of the most beautiful pottery in America is made at Marblehead 



evenly. Then hollow out the piece, the fingers still holding 

 the outer walls, while the thumbs are pressed into the cen- 

 ter of the clay firmly and strongly until they reach within 

 a half an inch of the bottom. Experimenting teaches how 

 the vessel can be molded and shaped at the will of the potter. 

 They take beautiful curves and shapes of their own, accord- 

 ing to the pressure of the fingers. Some potters make a 

 point of never duplicating any piece of their pottery. Of 

 course, it is necessary to have a certain shape in mind, the 

 pressure of a bowl being different from that of a slender 

 vase. The different arrangement of the hands, to acquire 

 the varied shapes, are found out from experience, but the 

 chief thing to remember is holding the vessel firmly and 

 strongly at the bottom as the wheel turns. When the top 

 is reached, if the shape is not true, start from the bottom 

 and press hardest where the pressure is needed, and lightly 

 where the shape does not require altering. It is important 

 to keep the thickness of the walls even, about one-quarter 



of an inch thick. When the vessel is finished, cut the edge 

 with a sharp tool, having first wet It with slip. Place the 

 fore-finger of the left hand inside and cut towards the 

 finger during one revolution of the wheel, and remove the 

 piece cut when the wheel is not in motion. The edges may 

 be softened by the fore-finger and middle finger of the right 

 hand. Wet the edges with slip and hold them straight and 

 firm, and while the wheel revolves, the left hand should 

 grasp the wrist of the right to steady it. Now leave the 

 vessel to stiffen for about a half an hour, then use the hoe- 

 shape tool for removing the piece from the wheel. It must, 

 of course, be first moistened with slip; then run the tool 

 under the bottom and move from the center. When the 

 wheel has stopped it can be removed. In about an hour 

 it will have stiffened slightly and may then be finished off 

 with a smooth-edge oval tool. It is then ready for deco- 

 rating and may be finished with either of the processes 

 already described. 



