potier

Potier is a French term for a craftsman who makes pottery; in English the equivalent is potter. The word derives from Old French potier, from pot, meaning pot or vessel, with the agent suffix -ier. The term denotes someone who forms vessels from clay. In France and other Francophone regions, potier also serves as a surname.

Historically, potters were essential artisans in towns and villages, producing everyday wares such as jars, bowls, casseroles, and decorative pieces. They often belonged to guilds and worked with locally sourced clays and glazes. Techniques varied, including wheel throwing, coil building, and slab construction; kilns used ranged from wood-fired to gas and, later, electric, with glazing methods that evolved from simple lead or alkaline glazes to more complex mature glazes.

The craft spans many cultures and periods, and pottery has archaeological importance for understanding ancient economies and daily life. In the modern era, potters produce both functional wares and artistic objects. Studios and workshops operate worldwide, and contemporary potters may combine traditional methods with new glazes, forms, and approaches such as community-based practice. Sustainability concerns in contemporary practice include responsible clay sourcing, energy use in firing, kiln efficiency, and the move toward lead-free glazes.