A wine bucket needs to hold one bottle of wine and enough ice for chilling. Similar to a vase form, it requires a weight distribution that will allow for stability. Start with five pounds of earthenware clay thrown into a tall, wide cylinder, with thicker walls for refining later. The top of the cylinder widens to roughly 1½ times the diameter of the bottom.

1 Clay dryness is important. If it’s too soft, the rasp will gum up. If it’s too hard, the surface texture may be less dramatic.
1 Clay dryness is important. If it’s too soft, the rasp will gum up. If it’s too hard, the surface texture may be less dramatic.
2 Experiment with different directions in mark making with the rasp to shape the knob. Surprising patterns may emerge.
2 Experiment with different directions in mark making with the rasp to shape the knob. Surprising patterns may emerge.

3 Use deep score marks and a thicker, mortar-like slip to adhere the hard-leather-hard clay together.
3 Use deep score marks and a thicker, mortar-like slip to adhere the hard-leather-hard clay together.
4 Apply paper stencils and a colored slip. Once the slip is no longer tacky, remove the stencil.
4 Apply paper stencils and a colored slip. Once the slip is no longer tacky, remove the stencil.

5 Brush on a second color to select areas of the piece. Leave some areas bare to let the raw clay body show through.
5 Brush on a second color to select areas of the piece. Leave some areas bare to let the raw clay body show through.
6 Use a wire scoring tool to create decorative marks on both the colored sections and the bare clay body.
6 Use a wire scoring tool to create decorative marks on both the colored sections and the bare clay body.

7 After bisque firing, brush black underglaze into the textures, then wipe it away, leaving the black in the recessed lines.
7 After bisque firing, brush black underglaze into the textures, then wipe it away, leaving the black in the recessed lines.
8 Use black Mayco Designer Liner to create line work and enhance only the colored surface areas.
8 Use black Mayco Designer Liner to create line work and enhance only the colored surface areas.

9 Pour glaze to line the interior. Brush clear glaze and soda-ash wash onto select areas on the exterior. Refire to temperature.
9 Pour glaze to line the interior. Brush clear glaze and soda-ash wash onto select areas on the exterior. Refire to temperature.

From the Pottery Making Illustrated January/February 2016 issue.

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