Slab Building Exercise – box bottle

For this exercise I have used a smooth stoneware clay and made mitred joints to make the box shaped bottle

  • roll out a clay slab using guides for thickness
    roll out a clay slab using guides for thickness
  • compress the surface using a kidney or card and leave the slab to go leather hard
    compress the surface using a kidney or card and leave the slab to go leather hard
  • make a make a template using cardboard to cut out pieces to construct a box to cut out pieces to construct a box
    make a template using cardboard to cut out pieces to construct a box
  • once the slab is leather hard, cut out your box walls using the template - you will need six pieces - one for each side of the box
    once the slab is leather hard, cut out your box walls using the template – you will need six pieces – one for each side of the box
  • use a mitre tool to make angled edges on the wall pieces
    use a mitre tool to make angled edges on the wall pieces
  • OR use a potter's knife to cut an angle
    OR use a potter’s knife to cut an angle
  • angle the edges on all your pieces
    angle the edges on all your pieces
  • score all the edges and before joining, use water or slurry on the scored edges to join the sides
    score all the edges and before joining, use water or slurry on the scored edges to join the sides
  • join the walls to the base, supporting if necessary - you can use a straight edge of a box to support it. Avoid making dents in the now soft edges of the box
    join the walls to the base, supporting if necessary – you can use a straight edge of a box to support it. Avoid making dents in the now soft edges of the box
  • use a brush to smooth away any slurry and firm the joins on the inside
    use a brush to smooth away any slurry and firm the joins on the inside
  • to make the neck of the bottle, roll out a sausage (or you can coil, slab build or throw a bottle neck.
    to make the neck of the bottle, roll out a sausage (or you can coil, slab build or throw a bottle neck.
  • flaten out the clay slightly
    flaten out the clay slightly
  • use a dowel to make an indent across the middle, then cut along one of the long edges to make a flat edge, leaving the other edge rounded
    use a dowel to make an indent across the middle, then cut along one of the long edges to make a flat edge, leaving the other edge rounded
  • roll the piece into a tube with the rounded edge at the top
    roll the piece into a tube with the rounded edge at the top
  • cut off excess clay where the ends overlap to make the neck the right size
    cut off excess clay where the ends overlap to make the neck the right size
  • join the tube ends to finish the neck. Leave to go cheese-hard, or leather-hard before joining to the slab top
    join the tube ends to finish the neck. Leave to go cheese-hard, or leather-hard before joining to the slab top
  • make a cross to find the centre of the top side and mark where the neck hole will go
    make a cross to find the centre of the top side and mark where the neck hole will go
  • make a hole then add the neck to the top slab by scoring and slipping. Do this before adding the top slab to the box. This means you can firm the neck on to the top without distorting the newly constructed box
    make a hole then add the neck to the top slab by scoring and slipping. Do this before adding the top slab to the box. This means you can firm the neck on to the top without distorting the newly constructed box
  • Once you've joined the top slab and neck part to the rest of the box, the bottle is finished. Tidy the joins once the edges have firmed up a bit.
    Once you’ve joined the top slab and neck part to the rest of the box, the bottle is finished. Tidy the joins once the edges have firmed up a bit.
  • When the bottle shape has been tidied up, decorate the pot as you like
    When the bottle shape has been tidied up, decorate the pot as you like
  • Here I have added slip to decorate and made marks / painted over seed heads to make a design
    Here I have added slip to decorate and made marks / painted over seed heads to make a design
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