Slab-Built Teapot

Today I will be showing you how to build a slab-built teapot. This Teapot can be made in many different ways and shapes, so this will just be guidelines, and how I made mine. Feel free to tweak any steps, and make it to your liking!

Clay (Roughly 3 Pounds)

Slip

Metal Rib Tool

Sponge

Blending Tool

Fettling Knife

Pin Tool

Slip: Slip is watered down clay. Used as glue to bond two pieces of clay together.

Score: Making little scratch marks on the clay to help bond it together.

First, you're going to want to take about 2 pounds of your clay, and roll it out into a slab (3/8th Inch).

You can do this by using a slab roller, rolling pin, or even just using your hands.

Then, you'll want to cut the big slab into sections using the fettling knife, having two identical rectangles (these will be your walls, so shape them however you like). Make sure to keep the extra clay from the big slab, you'll need it.

You will then cut the edges of the identical rectangles at an angle. Score the edge you just cut.

Once you have your two identical triangles scored, slip them and join them together leaving holes in the top and bottom.

You can shape this and blend the edges as much as you'd like.

Just make sure you keep the top big enough for a lid.

Next, you will need to grab some more of the clay that you have left from the big slab.

Using your blended walls as a template, cut out two pieces of clay that will act as the top and bottom.

Score, Slip, and Blend these to the top and bottom (pictured) until you have a fully closed pocket of air.

With this pocket of air, feel free to shape and play with it as much as you want, as it will be easier to do now than in later steps.

Once you've shaped it to your liking, you can add texture or score and slip whatever you want onto the base.

If you'd like to carve things into the base, I would recommend waiting until later steps as the clay might still be wet.

Next, you will need to grab your pin tool and draw a hole on the top, wherever you'd like your lid to sit. (don't push all the way through, as you might want to change or redraw it)

Once you are happy with the hole, go ahead and use your fettling knife to cut all the way through. You may need to use your fingers or the sponge to clean up these edges.

Now we're going to cut the spout hole.

You can either just cut a whole corner or edge off (pictured) or make small holes.

For the small holes, just use a pencil or the pin tool and make a bunch of holes where you want your spout to be.

To make my spout, I will be slab building it.

You can also do this on the wheel, or even just by rolling some clay and hollowing it out.

Grab the rest of the clay you have, and make another slab about 1/2 an inch thick. (my clay is only a different color because we ran out of brownstone. It is still 3 pounds.)

If you're going with the slab-built technique, use the slab you rolled and cut out your desired shapes.

Score and slip these shapes together making sure it stays hollow.

You can then score and slip it onto the actual teapot, and blend it in with the base.

I chose to shape my spout into a football/eye shape, as my base looks like that shape aswell.

If you're happy with the current shape of your spout, you can just skip this step.

Next, you'll want to use the last of your slab.

Draw out whatever shape you'd like for the lid, and measure the diameter of the hole you cut in the 'Cutting the Hole' step.

This diameter helps you make a plug for the lid, so it doesn't fall off when you don't want it to.

Whatever shape your hole is, you'll want to cut the same shape for the plug. (make the plug slightly smaller than the diameter)

Then, cut out the desired lid shape.

Score and slip the plug onto the bottom of the lid.

I decided to add a spherical handle to the top of the lid.

This is not required, but if you'd like to make a handle for the lid, go ahead.

Be creative! Just remember whatever you make, score and slip it, so it stays on.

Lastly, you're going to want to roll out a coil.

You can do this using an extruder, or just your hands and the table.

When you have this coil, shape it to your liking.

After you have the shape you like, score and slip the top and bottom. (you might want to score some of the sides near the top and bottom, depending on the placement).

Blend it in as much as you'd like.

Congrats! You have now built a Slab-Built Teapot! Feel free to glaze it however you like.