handthrown

Handthrown refers to ceramic ware that is formed by shaping clay by hand on a potter’s wheel. The term emphasizes manual technique and a maker’s direct control, often distinguishing such pieces from those produced by molds, molds with slip casting, or other industrial fabrication methods. In common usage, handthrown pieces are created on a rotating wheel, where the potter centers the clay, opens it, and pulls the walls to the desired profile.

The throwing process typically begins with a well-centered ball of clay and water. The potter uses their hands and fingers, along with tools or ribs, to control thickness, shape, and symmetry. After the initial form is created, the piece is removed from the wheel at a leather-hard stage or left to firm further before trimming and refining. Finishing steps may include handle attachment, surface burnishing, or texture work. The ware is then dried, bisque-fired to harden, glazed or painted as desired, and fired again in a kiln.

Historically, handthrown ware has been central to many ceramic traditions around the world. It remains a hallmark of studio pottery, where each piece bears the potter’s individual adjustments and stylistic marks. While some studios hybridize methods or offer limited mold usage, handthrown work is typically valued for its expressiveness, variability, and tactile quality.

In the market and collecting, handthrown pieces are often sought for one-of-a-kind character, with variations in form, thickness, and glaze application reflecting the maker’s technique. Care for handthrown ware generally follows standard ceramic guidelines, avoiding sudden temperature changes and using appropriate cleaning methods to preserve glaze.