The equinox blows through turbulently and we are occasionally shrouded in morning mists that burn off into shortening golden days, leaves turning, lambs looking innocently plump and a few wild flowers having a last hurrah amongst the seed heads. A scattering of house martins soar but will soon join the swallows flying south. A quiet Winter ahead for us all but comforted by bowls of hearty soup and brimming mugfuls of tea, cosy and safe indoors. I can recommend ‘Do Make’ by James Otter should you need a good read - inspirational from a cool, new generation of craftsmen.
The pottery is now more productive than ever : Rory is a stalwart on Fridays, throwing perfectly stacking dinnerplates, rows of cache-pots and elegant jugs. The half litre mug is proving popular and I am about to start making teapots again.
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Teapots are the ultimate potter’s task and this is my method :
First, throw the capacious body with a gallery for an exactly fitting lid that doesn’t fall out when tipped; the spouts are thrown like cooling towers then trimmed at leather hard to fit over the carefully perforated shoulder ( there really is a tool called a teapot-holer).
The spout is cut at an angle so the tea pours straight; any pot ‘unwinds' in drying - something one only discovers when making spouts, it seems. The strap handle is pulled and attached with care, pulled again so it springs from the body and the comfortable thumbstop added.
The lid is turned, the base becoming the top and a knob thrown on as on jampots etc plus a hole made for the steam to escape.
This all takes several days and after very slowly drying, fettling to rub off any rough edges, it is bisque fired.
Then there is dusting off, applying wax resist to the gallery and lower rim of the lid so it can fire in place, thus keeping its shape and ensuring a snug fit and then dipping in the tin glaze. The pot and lid have their bases cleaned off completely so they don’t stick to the kiln shelf.
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The next day it is painting and a second overnight firing and after another 24 hours cooling, the teapot emerges alongside its compatriots and the first question on all our lips is ‘Will it pour?’…..My perfection rate is about 6/10, a lifetime study in progress and I offer a mat/teapot stand should that irritating dribble down the spout occur.
And then slink back to making bowls , pure and simple .
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This Italian clay dries much faster than the old red Devon Fremington and demands vigilance to dry extra slowly to avoid cracking at the joints - a challenge that too often defeats me but luckily there is a brisk market for seconds across the range! Do fix a time to pop by and rootle through the basket if nearby.
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The new website is almost there, just a few tweaks and tests - I will let you know the moment it is live.
Keep well and warm wishes from Fitzhead,
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