Pots

I like making jugs. It may be something to do with the rhythm of the handle/spout combination, or the fact that there are so many variations and sizes possible, all with slightly different uses but the same challenge of making something that can be lifted comfortably and pours well. Some of my favourite pots are the statuesque jugs made by medieval potters - vessels of huge presence and purposefulness.

Things we drink from are very personal - intimate even. We hold them during use and put them to our lips. Not surprisingly many people have favourite cups or mugs, even for particular drinks, or times of day. The drinking vessels I make fall into three main sorts: tea/coffee cups with an 'open' bowl form; beakers - for cold drinks, designed to fit comfortably in the hand, and wine cups - smaller beaker forms with a narrower base, again a natural fit to the hand. Fitting a handle to these smaller vessels makes a good small coffee cup.

Bowls, like jugs, come in many sizes, and have many uses, and much of the character lies in the small variations in shape, and detailing. The plates I typically make are quite simple, with a modest wall and narrow rim. The decoration is also simple, a result from the natural pattern of overlaps created when pouring glaze across the upper surface of the plate.

Whilst the medieval influence finds its way into many of the forms of pot already mentioned, the Lossenham Pottery Project has provided a good excuse for making a lot of pots that are more directly based on English medieval pottery. More information about the project can be found elsewhere, but I find recreating these pots, using appropriate methods and materials, is a fascinating learning process.

Candlesticks, egg cups, vases, soap dishes, planters and various other things all have their own quirks and challenges. Not things I make regularly, but it is always interesting to try something different.