Michael Janus’ woven-bowl project can be done using a slump mold or over a hump mold. The process shown here uses a plaster hump mold. It can be done with many sizes of extruded clay or you can use strips of cut slabs. 

1 Extrude several 1-inch-diameter coils. Cross two coils on a convex plaster hump mold.2 Mark the middle. Add two coils on either side of the crossed coils (east and west) to start the weaving process.

3 Weave in coils north and south of the other original coil. Count rows: weave 2 to the north/south, then 2 to the east/west.4 Attach a coil rim to the outside circumference of the woven platter. Cut the ends that will be joined at a 45° angle.

5 Pull the woven coils up and around the outer edge of the attached rim coil, then cut away the excess with a fettling knife.6 Smooth and compress the cut coils as you go to remove sharp edges and compress the join.

7 Mark the placement for a foot ring with a pin tool, place a coil on top, cut the ends of the coil at 45° angles, then attach.8 Throw the foot coil on the wheel, pressing down on the inside and outside to attach, then pull up to give the foot height.

9 Paddle the outside and the rim with a rope paddle. The texture will contrast the smooth foot ring as well as the interior.

From the Pottery Making Illustrated  Nov/Dec 2016 issue.

Topics: Handbuilding Techniques

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