For the past couple of weeks I have been making pots larger that my usual fare. I have a request from a couple of designer friends for large pieces for a new outlet they are opening in Park City. It is fun to work on things I usually am not able to make for lack of market.

These oval dishes are 16″ wide.

I tried a few of them with lids.

I made two of these bowls. They are 16″ in diameter.

14′ tubular vases

These vases are between 22 and 24 inches tall.

Here are some of them finished.

Some people can throw big vases all in one pull. I have to make smaller parts and them join them together and finish them. Here is a 15 lb bowl that will form the base for a larger vase.

The top part is thrown from 10 lbs of clay.

The rims of both parts are scored with a serrated rib. The rim of the top is concave like this so that it will fit around the rim of the lower part.

The second bowl form is inverted and carefully placed on the first like this.

The joint is then sealed and the pot is carefully thrown in such a way as to make it one continuous pot. Of course timing is pretty important here. If the pot is rushed it will collapse. If you wait too long to join the parts the joint will crack. After a few tries you get it figured out.

I worked at these all day today and got two finished. With a larger vase (50 lbs) I may only get one done all day.

After the vase has set up over night I usually attach some handles of something like that.