Creating pottery is one of the oldest and most rewarding craft traditions — a process that transforms raw clay into functional, beautiful objects. Whether you're curious about how handcrafted ceramics are made or considering learning the craft yourself, this guide walks through every stage of the pottery-making process.
1. Choosing Your Clay
The foundation of any ceramic piece is the clay body. Different clays behave differently in the hand, the kiln, and the finished glaze.
Stoneware is the most widely used clay for functional tableware and homeware. It fires at high temperatures (typically 1,200–1,300°C), producing a dense, durable body that is naturally waterproof once glazed. Stoneware has a satisfying weight and texture — ideal for bowls, platters, vases and serving pieces.
Terracotta is an earthenware clay that fires at lower temperatures (around 1,000–1,100°C), producing the warm, earthy red-orange tones associated with Mediterranean ceramics. It is more porous than stoneware and typically requires a glaze to become waterproof, but its rich colour and organic character make it a beautiful choice for decorative homeware and sculptural pieces.
Porcelain is the finest and most refined clay body — smooth, white, and translucent when thin. It is technically demanding to work with but produces elegant, delicate results.
At Polly Barton Ceramics, stoneware is the primary clay body used across the wave and sculptural collections, with terracotta used for pieces in the Mediterranean-inspired range.
2. Wedging the Clay
Before shaping begins, the clay must be wedged — a process similar to kneading dough. Wedging removes air pockets from the clay body, which if left in place can cause pieces to crack or even explode during firing. It also creates a uniform consistency throughout the clay, making it easier to shape and less prone to warping.
Proper wedging is one of the most important — and most underestimated — steps in the pottery process.
3. Shaping the Clay
There are several methods for shaping clay, each producing different results:
Hand-building encompasses a range of techniques including coiling, pinching, and slab construction. It is the most direct and expressive method — the potter's hands shape the clay without mechanical assistance, resulting in forms with natural variation and character. Hand-building is particularly suited to sculptural and organic forms such as wave bowls, ruffle vases, and decorative platters.
Wheel throwing uses a rotating potter's wheel to shape clay into symmetrical forms. It is well suited to cylindrical shapes — mugs, cups, and vases — and requires significant practice to master.
Slip casting involves pouring liquid clay (slip) into plaster moulds to produce consistent, repeatable shapes. It is commonly used in production ceramics.
Hand-building is the primary technique used at Polly Barton Ceramics, allowing each piece to develop its own individual character — no two wave bowls or sculptural vases are ever exactly alike.
4. Drying
Once shaped, clay pieces must dry slowly and evenly before firing. Rushing this stage causes cracking. Pieces pass through several stages of dryness:
- Leather hard — firm but still workable. Additional details can be added, edges refined, and handles attached at this stage.
- Bone dry — fully dried, fragile, and ready for the first firing. At this point the clay has no moisture remaining and is at its most delicate.
Drying times vary depending on the thickness of the piece, the ambient temperature, and humidity.
5. Bisque Firing
The first firing — known as bisque firing — transforms raw clay into a permanent ceramic material. Bisque firing typically occurs at temperatures between 980°C and 1,040°C. This process burns off any remaining organic material and moisture, leaving a hard, porous surface that is ready to accept glaze.
Bisque-fired ceramics are more durable than unfired clay but still relatively fragile compared to the finished, glaze-fired piece.
6. Glazing
Glazing is the process of applying a glassy coating to the bisque-fired surface. Glazes add colour, texture, and waterproofing to the ceramic body — and the results can vary dramatically depending on the glaze chemistry, application method, and kiln type.
For a detailed guide to glazing techniques, see How to Glaze Ceramics: Techniques, Tips & Finishes.
7. Glaze Firing
The final firing — glaze firing — melts the glaze onto the ceramic surface, fusing it permanently to the clay body. Stoneware glaze firing typically occurs at 1,200–1,280°C. At these temperatures the glaze becomes molten, flows slightly, and then sets as the kiln cools — producing the smooth, glassy surface of the finished piece.
Cooling must happen gradually. Rapid temperature changes cause thermal shock, which can crack or shatter even a well-made piece.
8. The Finished Piece
Once the kiln has cooled completely — a process that can take 12–24 hours — the pieces are carefully unloaded and inspected. Each piece is checked for cracks, glaze defects, and surface quality. Minor imperfections are part of the handcrafted nature of the work; significant defects may render a piece unsuitable for use.
The result is a ceramic object that is both functional and unique — shaped by hand, fired at high temperature, and finished with care.
Polly Barton Ceramics creates handcrafted stoneware tableware and homeware from her Sydney studio. Browse the wave bowl collection, sculptural vases, and ceramic serving platters.