A. Digging the clay from the pit.

B. Washing the clay and allowing it to settle in large, excavated pits used as settling basins to rid of impurities.

C. Allowing the clay to age fro a few months to "ripen" by mixing with it small quantities of older clay to increase bacterial action in the clay and to promote it's working qualities.

D. Drying the clay to a workable consistency.

E.� Wedging the clay to make it smooth and work out air bubbles.

F. Forming the vase.
By Potter's wheel:
a The entire vase is thrown on a potter's wheel, or if it is too large to be formed in one operation, the vase is thrown in a series of sections and joined together with wet clay slip.
b- The vase, in a semi dry condition, is again placed on the wheel and is turned while the potter uses a sharp tool to remove unwanted clay.
c- The vase is smoothed with a moistened cloth, leather or sponge.
d- Handles and other adjuncts are attached.
By Mold:
Plastic vases are partially produced on the potter's wheel, i.e., the mouth of the vase; the plastic parts are pressed in molds and then joined, smoothed and refined by hand.

Black Figure technique:

a- Polish the vase with burnished.
b- apply yellow ocher wash
c- Polish yellow ocher wash
d- Preliminary sketch with pointed stick of charcoal or lead.
e- Paint the black figure contour.
f- Fill in the black figures.
g- Apply added white.
h- Apply added red.
i- Incise lines.
j- Re-apply black or red on white.
k- Polish with soft cloth.

Red Figure technique

a- Polish vase with burnisher.
b- Apply yellow ocher wash.
c- Polish yellow ocher wash.
d- Preliminary sketch with pointed stick of charcoal or lead.
e- Outline figures with broad band of glaze using brush.
f- Draw relief lines using drawing instrument.
g- Draw dilute brown lines with thin brush.
h- Fill in background working up to broad outline band.
i- Apply added white or red, or relief form, and gold leaf.
j- Polish with a soft cloth.

Firing

a- Firing under oxidizing conditions up to 800 C
b- Firing under reducing conditions with the addition of water vapor from 800 C to 945 C and the cooling to 900 C.
c- Reoxidization at 900 C.
d- Gradual cooling of the kiln under reoxidizing conditions before removing the finished vase.
�
Beazley� or Noble...you tell me

A modern day summary could be as follows:

a-Pick up clay from store.
b-Turn on electric wheel.
c-Open prefab glaze.
d-Fire in electric kiln

Homer
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