How to Make Ceramic Salt and Pepper Shakers Dennis Ritter and Grace Tessein of Sugar Jaws Pottery

While browsing through the March/April 2024 issue of Pottery Making Illustrated, it occurred to me that I haven't posted how to make ceramic salt and pepper shakers in quite some time. So today I will fill that void!

Forming the Shakers

To start the shakers, cut out templates using the provided examples as guides (1). You can scale up or down the example template to your desired size. If possible, use Bristol board for the templates as it will allow you to use them many times; however, newsprint or printer paper will work as well. 

Roll out several slabs to ¼ inch (6 mm) thick. After rolling out your slabs, place them on a smooth surface, such as a drywall board, and compress both sides using a rubber rib. This helps to prevent warping and removes any canvas texture or marks. Next, use a rubber rib to gently press and smooth the templates into the slabs, then trace the edges with an X-Acto knife. Tracing before cutting will allow you to make a cleaner cut. Cut out each of the pieces (2). You will also need to cut out several long strips of clay to form the wall of the tray. The example uses 1-inch (2.5-cm) strips that are cut to length while assembling.

Allow the pieces to set up on drywall for an hour or two before building. They should be firm enough that you cannot ball them back up yet soft enough to easily manipulate them without cracking. 

Now you can begin constructing the shakers. To start, use your fingers or a rubber rib to slightly bevel the edge of the wall seams, score the beveled edges in a cross-hatch pattern, and apply water or joining slip to one edge. Next, bring the edges of the wall together to form a truncated cone (3). Match the beveled edges and gently compress the seam with your fingers or a rib. When the clay is joined, compress the seam with a rubber rib while supporting the interior of the piece with one hand and pulling the rib along the outer part of the seam. Use a damp, square-tip paintbrush to lightly blend the edge of the seam on the interior and exterior of the form (see 4). 

To attach the bottom and top of the shaker, score the edges of the truncated cylinder as well as one each of the small and large circles. Apply water or joining slip to the scored edge of the large circle and gently tap the bottom of the shaker to the cylinder. Lightly blend the outside seam with a rubber rib (4) and compress the inside seam with a paintbrush. 

For the top, apply water or joining slip to the scored top of the shaker form and gently press the edges of the small circle into the form. After the top is attached, use a pony roller to further compress the join (5). 

The last step for constructing the shakers is to create a place for a stopper on the bottom. Holding the shaker form in one hand, use a rubber rib to create a concave bottom on the piece (6). To create a uniform hole on the bottom, use a spade drill bit and slowly cut through the clay (7). 

Dennis Ritter and Grace Tessein are artists and educators. They live in Rome, Georgia, with their two dogs, Sugar Jaws and Etta June, and a cat named Sunny. They have been working collaboratively on Sugar Jaws Pottery for seven years. They share a love of hiking, collecting, and food. Learn more at www.gracetessein.com/sugar-jaws-pottery or on Instagram @sugarjawspottery.