Transcript Slide 1

slab constructed cup
Flatten a lump of clay into a long shape as you will be
rolling out a slab long enough to wrap around a tube form.
Note: finished cup (left) was made using this
technique. Resulting cups’ surface may be glazed a
variety of ways. This lesson is about construction
and does not include the glazing process.
Create a long slab using a rolling pin. You will need a fairly
long slab as it will be wrapped around a cardboard cylinder
to take its shape. Be careful to maintain uniform thickness.
Way off to one side, cut one lengthwise edge so that it is
straight. Leave yourself plenty of clay to make your cup.
Choose one of the ends and carefully cut a 90 degree angle
(also called a “right angle”). Make this cut near to the end
of the slab to leave plenty of clay to work with.
Measure and create two marks of equal distance from the
long side of the slab. These will enable you to cut a parallel
line. This distance will become the height of the cup.
After double-checking your measurements for accuracy,
align your ruler with the two reference marks and cut the
parallel line. Cut the entire length of the slab.
At this point, the slab should look like a long rectangle with
an unfinished side to one end.
Wrap a piece of paper around a cardboard tube form (not
too tight or too loose) and tape together. The paper will
prevent the clay cylinder from sticking to the cardboard. Be
sure not to tape the paper to the tube.
Roll the slab onto the paper-covered tube. Align the bottom
of the tube and the edge of the slab so they are even.
Carefully observe where the two ends of the slab meet.
Rather than making them overlap, cut off the excess slab
so that both sides align well together.
Score and slip the two ends of the slab together to form a
clay cylinder.
After connecting the two sides, take time to carefully
smooth out the seam so it doesn’t show.
Carefully
measure the
bottom on
another slab
and lightly trace
a circle. Score
the inside of the
circle and the
bottom edge of
the cup.
Attach the cup’s bottom with slip.
Cut off the excess clay from the bottom and smooth out
the seam as you did earlier when creating the cylinder. Use
great care because you don’t want your cup to leak.
Roll a coil to use for a handle.
Score and slip the handle onto the cup. You may want to
attach the handle to the place where you had a seam to
better hide whatever indication of a seam remains.
Form the handle so that it fits comfortably in your hand.
The handle should not be too large or too small and should
be attached securely. A comfortable handle makes all the
difference to the user when drinking from the finished cup.
Remove the cardboard tube from the cup by sliding it out
of the paper that surrounded it. If the cup is too flimsy or
delicate to safely remove the paper, it may remain during
the drying process. The tube must be removed so that the
cup will not shatter when it dries and shrinks (the tube will
not shrink or give way).
Smooth out the edge of the cup as that will be the surface
that makes contact with the user’s lips. Check for quality
and make needed repairs or adjustments.