Manufacture

Techniques

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Coiling

        Coiling is a primary forming technique, meaning that it is used to produce the overall shape of a vessel that is then refined by other techniques. Coiling involves the rolling out of clay into a long thin sausage-like form that is wound round like a spring. Building a vessel with coils is accomplished by placing them around the circumference and gradually increasing the height. The diagram below shows what a coiled pot appears like before it is refined.

        The most common coiled vessel shape have either round or pointed bases.  Pieces can also be identified by step-like fractures occurring through the piece.

Pointed Base Vessels

        In most cases coiling is used in conjunction with molding to make certain parts of pots. Such as the spout of a stirrup vase which is formed through coiling while the rest has been formed by molds. A stirrup spout is shown below.