offcntr | Pachydermy

Back in the studio after several weeks break. I've collected a bunch of special orders, and need to make a replacement sugar bowl for the elephant tea set. Fortunately, I remember that the cream and sugar bowls were a pound of clay each. Throwing them is like making a bank, but in miniature.

It's finally summer here, warm and dry in the studio, so by evening, I can wrap the bodies tightly in plastic for over night. In the morning, I first make parts: pinch pot ears, rolled coil legs and hand-formed eyebrows, tails, lower lips. I scrape some clay off the bottom edge of each body, roll it around on the tabletop, and rib the surface smooth and round.

Next, I score and slip attachment points, put on ears, eyebrows, chin and tail. Flip over and attach the legs.

The hole in the back is cut with the same tool I use for stoppers in the banks. I save the disc cut-out, clean up the edge, and add a coil around the rim. I add a blob of clay for a knob, stick the whole thing to a centered chuck on the wheel, and clean, smooth and shape the knob and lip.

I put some thin plastic over the hole, position the lid, and do any tweaking needed to fit. Afterwards, I take out the plastic and gently replace the lid, so it and the body will dry at the same rate. I make eyes from white and colored porcelain, score and moisten to attach, make pupils with a little bamboo chopstick tool.