one you have no fear of harming, and that stands firmly and evenly on the floor; a piece of smooth, rather thick board about ten inches square upon which to build your pottery and a small pastry board. Place the table near a window where there is plenty of light and under it lay a piece of oilcloth to protect the floor; thus prepared you may plunge into your work and accomplish wonders without disturbing the general order of the room. At a convenient place on the table set a small bowl of water and a cup of slip. The slip is simply clay softened in water until it is about as thick as cream. A large piece of old muslin, that you can tear in pieces as needed, should always be at hand, and a wet sponge on which to wipe your fingers.
Place your pastry board on the table and when the clay is kneaded lay it to one side and scrape the board, clearing off all dried particles. Unless this precaution is taken crumbs of dry clay are apt to mix with the moist clay and make it rough and gritty.
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Fig. 576 Design Painted on the Unbaked Clay. |
Fig. 565 A Leaf Design. |
Fig. 575 The Little Pitcher. |
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Fig. 563 Yellow Candlestick. |
Fig. 562 Made Without Tools. |
Fig. 564 Hooded Cobra Design. |
[Figs. 563], [564] and [565] are three original designs in candlesticks. We will take one of these for a model. [Fig. 563] is the simplest and most easily made, so we will begin with that.
Have ready a rather deep
China Saucer,
tear off a square of muslin large enough to cover the inside of the saucer and to extend over its edge. Dip the muslin in the bowl of water and lay it flat in the saucer, pressing it down as evenly as possible and smoothing out the air bubbles.
Now take
A Large Handful of Clay,