Guangdong ceramic exports in March increased 28.6 percent year-on-year

By JDZ-Ceramic

Foshan City news in an interview that Exit Inspection and Quarantine, Guangdong ceramic March exports to reverse the first two months of decline, with exports amounting to 280 million U.S. dollars, an increase of 28.6%. Foshan Comprehensive Exit Inspection and Quarantine, Inspection and Quarantine Technical Center marketing director, told reporters Liu Yamin, 1,2 month and Foshan in the Middle East, ASEAN, the European Union, Latin America, the United States the value of domestic exports fell across the board compared to the situation in March has been greatly changed. It is worth noting that, according to Customs statistics, in the first quarter of this year, Guangdong ceramics markets in Africa and the Middle East made a major breakthrough in exports to Africa and the United Arab Emirates was the rapid growth. These two markets reached 59.58 million U.S. dollars and 51.65 million U.S. dollars, increased by 42.9% and 55.1%.

Products in the export structure, said Liu Yamin, Foshan Ceramics exports to the construction of ceramic-based, the vast majority of products for the tile, of which about 6 become glazed brick, glazed brick 4 become. Most of the African market in order to wear-resistant bricks, tiles mainly tiles glazed wall tiles are mainly small specifications, Europe and the United States is still mainly in high-grade. Bathroom ceramic exports declining trend, exports of high-performance technical ceramics have greater growth than previously, but the high-performance technical ceramics in Foshan ceramics industry in the proportion of the whole is not great. A number of mainland enterprises, the cost of production is relatively low, to low-cost low-end part of the market occupied. Enterprise vicious competition leads to decrease in profits, while many companies do not have their own brands, but to rely on OEM to maintain the normal operation of the factory. Therefore, the experts propose to increase the access threshold for the ceramics industry, to do a good job to support big-scale enterprises to restrict the production of low-quality small businesses, low-priced exports behavior.

Followed by a period of time on the export situation, Liu Yamin that the current international financial crisis, the foreign real estate market downturn, new real estate projects to reduce, residents in areas such as housing renovation renovation also reduced consumer demand, the export volume of sanitary ceramic unlikely in the near future has changed significantly. He said: “It should be said that the ceramic industry is now entering a crucial period to re-shuffle of, enterprises should strengthen the research and development of new products, and strengthen brand building, and strictly control product quality in line with the customers and the requirements of the importing country laws and regulations, it is necessary to know the quality of the product production out, rather than testing out. ”

He suggested that the domestic ceramic enterprises to Italy, Spain and other enterprises to learn: “The power is also a ceramics after decades of hard work before the establishment of hegemony now, they are products, specifications, and cultural connotation of the brand and so on, there are their strength and image, we should learn from their experience, raise the level of exports, and export enterprises to build a good brand name products, and continuously improve the economic value of export products. if only to imitate, then always walk in other people’s the back. “In addition, the export enterprises to strengthen inspection and quarantine agencies and communication between the countries to understand the import laws and regulations, so that problems can be resolved in a timely manner. He said that the national construction of Health Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Foshan Ceramics Key Laboratory testing has a world-class testing equipment, the authority of professional and technical personnel, sanitary ceramics in the construction testing, certification can provide a full range of technical support.

Related Links: The April 17 “Dongguan Daily” reported that, according to customs statistics Whampoa, Guangdong Province, the first quarter of this year, export of all types of ceramic products worth 740 million U.S. dollars, an 7.1 percent increase over the same period last year. The first quarter of Guangdong ceramic export market for the first three followed by the European Union, ASEAN and the United States. The first quarter, export ceramics in Guangdong Province followed by the three major markets before the European Union, ASEAN and the United States, on the above three markets accounted for 42.1 percent of total exports. Of these, exports to the EU 140 million U.S. dollars, an increase of 9.4%; of ASEAN exports 97,690,000 U.S. dollars, an increase of 20.2%; exports to the United States 71,680,000 U.S. dollars, down 1.3%.

Foshan ceramics industry in transition by popular vote in the wind

By JDZ-Ceramic

Recently, a number of institutional investors gathered in PE “dialogue PE Foshan City, Guangdong Province and the SME Development Forum”, ceramic industries favored by the wind to vote.

According to the Shenzhen Investment Management Company Oriental Fuhai said Chen Wei, chairman of the Foshan trip is to find high-end ceramic enterprises in investment opportunities, and create Oriental Investment Co., Ltd. has invested a well-known ceramics enterprises in Foshan.

Foshan host integration and Noah Venture Capital Co., Ltd. (Foshan) wealth management center for the invitation and the three investment institutions, including the East Fuhai Shenzhen Investment Management Company, creators Eastern Investment Co., Ltd., venture capital of the morning, they believe that transition Foshan enterprises need investors.

“Growth” has been invited to PE in the speech repeatedly emphasized the elements of the primary investment, and the transformation of Foshan ceramics industry seems to show a new “growth.”

Chen Wei, chairman of the East Fuhai, Liu, chairman of Morningside Venture day expressed the hope that in a year with Foshan enterprises “marriage.”

Shenzhen will become the leading city of the world’s ceramics industry

By JDZ-Ceramic

Shenzhen will become the leading city of the world’s ceramics industry
“Ceramic Fair will Youngpoong source world, so that China’s traditional culture of the ceramic Games.” Yesterday, on the 1st in the Fair Lane, Yong Feng, chairman of the source of the Group, “Mission Hills porcelain Valley” to create the right Liu Yuen-fai fat face full of smile. Chinese ceramics in recent years as the rise of the brand new leader, he was busy reception wave and wave of hope into “porcelain Guanlan Valley” of the domestic and foreign businessmen to cooperate.

“Yesterday, through the Fair will be the platform that we and the State Development Bank, the Japanese company of your music in your music, Hebei and Jiangxi Jingdezhen Cixian two ceramic enterprises focus on the signing ceremony of cooperation, such cooperation or whether it is from the capital market, are Youngpoong source contribute to the completion of the dream of bigger and stronger, it can be said quite abundant harvest. “Liu told reporters the right-hui, in addition, he is more proud that, through the display of ceramic Youngpoong source, let the people see to accomplish a great deal of traditional Chinese culture, to enhance the international image of China plays a significant role.

It is understood that in March 2007 in the National Exhibition on Russia and China, fine porcelain Youngpoong source ceremony was elected the country presented to the Russian President Vladimir Putin and former President, when President Putin to take up a porcelain interesting interest called the “big Chinese goods.” Many people in the booth on the message that these magnificent porcelain fine behind a pool of national revival of the Chinese enterprises in the history of ceramic production responsibility.

“Porcelain Guanlan Valley” is introduced in Bao’an District, government regulation, business investment and a new model, the source model through the play Youngpoong brand to attract domestic and foreign brands of advanced ceramic entry. Its under the display of Chinese porcelain and cultural experience, the International Porcelain Expo Trade Center, the International Cultural and Creative Design Center porcelain, ceramic and cultural training for international exchange center, the International Cultural Forum porcelain features five theme areas, the ultimate goal is to build a global culture of high-end ceramic the core area. At present, Japan’s “Jingdezhen” of the “nine Valley” in ceramics, has been assigned to “porcelain Guanlan Valley.”

“Why ‘Guanlan porcelain Valley’ ability to attract as Japan ‘nine Valley fire’ this world-class ceramic art to join?” Mr Rutherford said the right, hit by the financial crisis, in Europe and the U.S. market a lot of prestigious ceramics enterprises declared bankrupt, in the midst of are the source of contrarian growth Shenzhen Yongfeng Porcelain giant international attention. “Nine Valley burned” many times, make unannounced visits to the Group of Experts sent Youngpoong source of Shenzhen high-tech transformation of traditional industries through to vigorously support the development of cultural industries to conduct a comprehensive survey the investment environment, the investigation eventually concluded that: Youngpoong source in Shenzhen the rise and development is not accidental, the near future, Shenzhen, China will undoubtedly become a world leader in ceramic industrial innovation, the development of the city, “they are ceramic cultural industries in the rapid development of Shenzhen as a deterrent.”

Straits Chinese Arts & Crafts Fair in Jingdezhen potters wins six golds

By JDZ-Ceramic

Straits Chinese Arts & Crafts Fair in Jingdezhen potters wins six golds

By the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, China Light Industry Federation and the Fujian Provincial Government jointly organized the fourth China (Putian) Channel Craft Fair held in Putian, Fujian, Jingdezhen City, organized by 13 ceramic artists of the exhibition and the exhibition forms, participated in the Expo. Jingdezhen Ceramic exquisite art, this fair has become a major bright spot. Works in Jingdezhen City, won a total of six gold, 10 silver.

Jingdezhen porcelain traditionally HKADC modern sensation in Hong Kong

By JDZ-Ceramic

Jingdezhen porcelain traditionally HKADC modern sensation in Hong Kong

From the University of Hong Kong Museum of Art and co-sponsored Jingdezhen City Department of Cultural Affairs, “Jiang Kiln” Paul Jiang Qing, founder of the contractor’s “One to review the past to the new - the modern tradition of Jingdezhen Ceramic Art Exhibition” in April from the Museum of Fine Arts at the University of Hong Kong has been carried out, visits to the people of Hong Kong and foreigners flocked to the visitors a fresh, exciting feel. In Hong Kong to attend the Jiangxi Province in 2009 (Hong Kong) Week, deputy director of the Municipal People’s Congress, Sau Ming, vice mayor in high spirits to visit the exhibition.

A total of 135 sets of modern works of traditional pottery exhibition. These works have not only carrying forward the tradition of innovation, not only as antique porcelain, but also different from the general sense of the antique porcelain, the court through traditional painting and a combination of three-dimensional objects, into the modern aesthetic elements into “the cleverest learned new” expression of a new, fully demonstrates the breadth and depth of Jingdezhen, the south-pointing carriage, full of vitality and creativity of the ceramic culture. The exhibition also displayed the painting tools and more than 40 kinds of paints. These exhibits have been to the Russian State Tretyakov Museum and Art Gallery, Bahrain National Museum, Liu Haisu Shanghai Art Museum, Dalian is Chuan Museum, Museum of Jiangxi Province, one in each, are caused by an unusual reaction with wood. The exhibition in Hong Kong has been on display in July of this year.

China Jingdezhen hold 2009 International Ceramic Fair

By JDZ-Ceramic

Introduction of 2009 China Jingdezhen International Ceramic Fair

China Jingdezhen International Ceramic Fair is a internationalized and specialized ceramic fair, which is sponsored by the Ministry of State Commerce, China National Light Industry Council, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and Jiangxi Provincial People’s Government. It merges exquisite ceramic exhibition, ceramic cultural exchange and ceramic products trade as a whole.
The Fair has been successfully held for five times, it attracted total 910,000 visitors and purchasers and more than 20,000 distinguished guests and friends from 2,427 participant enterprises and 3,000 procurement companies from 49 countries and regions. The China Jingdezhen International Ceramic Fair has already developed into a world ceramic event and international trading platform, which promoted the exchange and cooperation of the world ceramic in commerce, culture, skills and etc.
The 6th China Jingdezhen International Ceramic Fair will be held from Oct. 18th to 22nd, 2009, in Jingdezhen China Ceramic Musenum including nine theme exhibition areas and offering 1480 standard booths for the high-tech achievements ceramics, the international ceramic art, international porcelain for daily-use, domestic brand name ceramics, ceramic packaging and auxiliary materials, works of national masters, young and middle-aged innovative ceramics, top 10 famous kilns in China, and antique & arts. Besides, we will held 12 supporting activities in ceramic workshop, trade and cultural exchanges including the Jingdezhen International Forum on High-tech Ceramic, the International Ceramic Cultural Innovation Summit, the National Exchange Conference of Antiques & Arts, the 2nd Jingdezhen Modern International Artistic Ceramics Auction, the National Shape and Decoration Design Competition of Blue-and-white porcelain with rice pattern & Blue-and-white ceramics for daily use, and the Large-Scale Theatrical Performance of Gathering in Porcelain Capital during the Fair.
Gathering in the millennium charming porcelain capital, jointly promote the development of global ceramic industry. The enthusiastic and hospitable people in Jingdezhen sincerely welcome porcelain corporation from home and abroad, ceramic purchaser, ceramic supplier, tourist guests to Jingdezhen for showing, trading and visiting in the golden October.

Five major characteristics of the I.C.F
High-level: The fair is sponsored by the Ministry of State Commerce, China National Light Industry Council, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and Jiangxi Provincial People’s Government. The International Forum on High-tech Ceramic is sponsored by the Ministry of Science &Technology and Jingxi Provincial People’s Government.
Large-scale: The exhibitors covering mainly porcelain production regions including Guangdong, Shandong, Hebei, Hunan, Guangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, and enterprises from Top Ten famous Kiln in China. The overseas enterprises covering mainly porcelain production countries all over the world and Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan.
Wide-category:The exhibits including the artistic porcelain for displaying, daily-use porcelain, industrial ceramics, the high-tech ceramics, the building and sanitary ceramics, ceramics machinery and the ceramic auxiliary materials.
Great- atmosphere: we held supporting activities in ceramic workshop, trade and cultural exchanges including the International Forum on High-tech Ceramic, Jingdezhen International Contemporary International Ceramic Exhibition, Jingdezhen International Art Porcelain Auction, Pass the Flame&Memorial Ceremony of “Three Gods of Porcelain” during the Fair.
New-form: To improve the trading of the Fair, we held Face to Face Contact Conference for Purchasers and Suppliers, Talks on Investment and Trade, Internal and Foreign Trade Contracts Sign conference.

National Treasure: Jingdezhen Ceramics

By JDZ-Ceramic

 National Treasure: Jingdezhen Ceramics、

Jingdezhen Ceramics Museum remains the most renowned cultural tourist attraction in the city. 

Opening in 1954, the Jingdezhen Ceramics Museum became the first institution of its kind in China and today it remains perhaps the most renowned cultural tourist attraction in Jingdezhen, a city known as the Capital of Porcelain.

The museum houses a great variety of historic pottery and porcelain exhibits. Most pieces were fired in governmental kilns during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). Also featured are artworks from the Republic of China period (1912-1949) and masterpieces produced by renowned ceramists of modern times. The museum has become a window to a cultured past spanning 1,000 years of Jingdezhen’s ceramic civilization.

The collection includes rare porcelain wares from the Song (960-1276), Yuan (1271-1368), Ming (1368-1644), and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, many of which are considered national treasures. And the exhibit surpasses all other museums in its holding of ceramic masterpieces created in the past 100 years.

The total collection is comprised of more than 13 categories and 250 subcategories of ceramics, spanning more than 2,000 shapes and more than 10,000 patterns.

Housed here are 378 pieces that have won international, national, or ministerial gold and silver prizes with four having won the National Prize for New Product Development. Exhibits also include many porcelain wares that were presented as state gifts in times past, as well as noted porcelain wares from Germany, Britain, Japan, South Korea and the United States.

For decades the museum has cultivated talented artisans of the ceramic craft. Today there are four: Ning Qinzheng, vice curator of the museum and a master of art and craft in Jiangxi Province; Cao Ganyuan, academic supervisor of the museum and chairman of the Jingdezhen Calligraphers’ Association; Chen Jun, curator assistant of the museum and a senior specialist in art and craft; and Sun Lixin, a senior specialist in arts and crafts born into a family of ceramists and now acting as director of the Jingdezhen Wenbo Art Exchange Center. Many of their pieces have garnered domestic and international awards and are popular among collectors both in China and overseas.

Winning wide praise both home and abroad, in recent years cultural relics and artworks from the Jingdezhen Ceramics Museum have appeared at many exhibitions in France, Japan, Macao and Hong Kong. The year 2004 marked the millennium anniversary of Jingdezhen and in 2003, the Chinese Culture Center set up in Paris by the Ministry of Culture of China held “Burning Brilliance”¡ªThe Exhibition of Ancient Porcelain Masterpieces of Jingdezhen. French President Jacques Chirac personally wrote to the center and visited the exhibition. “As the essence of Chinese culture, porcelain spreads the fame of Chinese culture around the world, especially in Europe,” he said.

The ceramic exhibition and other featured mediums reflecting Chinese heritage at the Chinese Culture Year in France proved a strong draw for the French public. The exhibition, with only 60 pieces displayed, attracted more than 10,000 visitors and all exhibits were heavily attended.

Jingdezhen’s porcelain artworks have generated interest and participation within the international culture of ceramics. For instance, the ceramic industry of France has developed a close relationship with that of Jingdezhen.

From the Ming Dynasty to the middle Qing Dynasty, a large quantity of porcelain wares made in Japan were modeled after those made of Jingdezhen, which had already been widely traded and collected across the globe. Since the Ming Dynasty, countless Jingdezhen porcelains were transported by Portuguese traders to Europe via Macao. Over the past 100 years in Hong Kong, an international metropolis known by some as the Capital of Art Collections, there have emerged a number of collectors who revel in Jingdezhen porcelains.

The French newspaper, Le Figaro, in praise of the Exhibition of Ancient Porcelain Masterpieces of Jingdezhen, described its cultural wares as: “Resplendent white gold, beautiful Chinese porcelain.” These are the particular jewels of the Jingdezhen Ceramics Museum, a palace of art depicting a city’s 1,000-year-old ceramic civilization.

Background information:

A world-famous brand, since the 15th Century Jingdezhen has enjoyed great reputation within the ceramic industry, whereas genuine porcelain was not produced in Europe until the 18th Century. Under the influence of Jingdezhen ceramics, the industry began to truly develop in Europe in the 19th Century. From the late Ming Dynasty through the early Qing Dynasty, chinaware - with Jingdezhen as synonym - sold well in Europe and around the world. Known in some regions as white gold, porcelain wares were popular with families of both aristocratic and common background. Noblemen in Europe and Japan were proud of their collections of Jingdezhen ceramics and shipping companies gained great wealth by trading Jingdezhen ceramics. (Thus the derivation of the label China in Europe.)

Lotte Jingdezhen Ceramic pottery creative agency of the Promised Land

By JDZ-Ceramic

Lotte Jingdezhen Ceramic pottery creative agency of the Promised Land
Lotte Tao Agency. Established in Hong Kong in 1985 for the purpose of potters and those who love pottery and production space to enjoy. Lotte Tao agency today by the famous Miss Zheng Yi potters command, has become Hong Kong’s largest pottery center. In order to expand the exchange of ceramics, in 2002, Lotte Tao founded the agency in Shanghai, the new studio and showroom; Jingdezhen pottery Lotte agency was set up in 4 years ago; Tao Lotte 2007 Beijing formally established agency. As Lotte Tao Yi Zheng Club annual travel to Hong Kong, Beijing, between Shanghai and Jingdezhen. Very Coincidentally, Ms Cheng at a press conference the day before the interview went just arrived at Jingdezhen. Thus, the reporter had the privilege and the Lotte Tao’s head as she talked about the effort to build the “Kingdom of creativity.”

“Jingdezhen is a very spiritual place, a lot of people would like pottery hereմմ’Aura’.” Miss Zheng Yi is a pleasant person, born optimist, even the talk is the exultant. Lotte Jingdezhen pottery before the creation of social organizations, she has been abroad many times to view the exchange of potters, but every time there regret - do not have a specialized Jingdezhen potters for foreign exchange and creative place. Of course, this place can also provide related services such as catering accommodation, which needs the creation and exchange continue for some time. Are based on this, May 1, 2005, Ms Cheng choose to establish a sculpture of Jingdezhen porcelain pottery Lotte agency, to assume the foreign exchange and creative potters base functions. “Chose porcelain sculpture, is very optimistic about where the ceramic culture.” Zheng Yi said.

Zheng president of the success of a number of foreign countries have come here especially for potters.

Interview the same day, journalists in Lotte’s foreign pottery art room to see the five foreign potters. University of Hawaii from the United States teachers Miss Chen Songli accepted an interview with reporters. This reporter has learned that this is the second time Ms Chan came to Jingdezhen, and is prepared to stay here for six weeks. Back to the United States, she is also prepared to come with their own students.

Last year, Ms. Chen first came to Jingdezhen, the city felt the strong atmosphere of ceramics, “but this kind of environment in other parts of the world’s unparalleled.” She also cited examples reporters, “In the United States, it is very difficult to buy ceramic glaze-related, but in Jingdezhen, these are not problems.” To go back after listening to a lot of students in her introduction, it is thought of Jingdezhen to. Conversation, she opened a small paper, showed reporters not long ago to do her a pair of small porcelain shoes. She said that she take it back to the United States, sent his best friend. Mountains can be seen here, she is very happy.

Lotte social event of pottery not only in foreign countries, “Phoenix” Jingdezhen as its impact on the expansion of the local community, gradually, more and more young people to gather together here. Zheng Yi found that many of these young people, such as ceramic College students in institutions of higher learning, they create works Lotte Lotte to sell on. The reporters found that these young people do not have a fixed work patterns, more like a whim, but very popular with visitors welcome.

The development of the past few years, today’s Jingdezhen pottery Lotte agency has air-conditioned studios, pilot plant, galleries, shops, cafes and artists homes, canteens and so on. Here is not only the artists and young students to exchange and creation of the stage, more like a big family of potters. “I would be happy to Lotte as a pilot plant, more specifically, a ceramic factory creative experiment.” Zheng Yi Tao this to their own social positioning. The people here are willing to put it than for the 798 Art District in Jingdezhen.

Lotte Tao agency has its own “reserve program”, for example, are held every Friday evening in a lecture ceramics. For instance, every Saturday or during holidays or Porcelain Fair, Lotte Jingdezhen pottery agency would provide the college students a venue to enable them to put a stand to sell his pottery works, a fine-sounding name on “creative fair” .

June 28, this reporter went to “creative fair” interview. Liu is on the third time to give them the platform Lotte was very pleased, she said: “Only in Jingdezhen, in Lotte have such an environment. In here that can not only make the cost of living is more important is access to practical experience and recognition of their work. ”

Jingdezhen Ceramic History of the development spoke of the prospects for the creative industries with the confidence of Zheng Yi. In her view, not lack of Jingdezhen ceramics culture, and not missing very edge industry in Jingdezhen, Jingdezhen current lack of creativity is, “Of course, such shortcomings are not unique in Jingdezhen, China’s ceramic industry is the existence of this phenomenon. It is gratifying that the local government of Jingdezhen is attention to this matter, there are a lot of people doing this thing. ” Zheng Yi Jingdezhen were each to want to leave, she said, whether it is in Hong Kong or in Beijing and Shanghai, ceramic art is not very strong atmosphere, with which it is difficult to carry out related work, but not the same as in Jingdezhen, surrounded by so ceramics who are expert, good atmosphere, and easily communicate.

Lotte Tao agency is an “art space” is also a business, the Tao of Lotte’s the next stage of development, Zheng Yi has his own ideas. She said that she is an artist, but also the Tao Lotte’s operators, as a business, the economic benefits that must be considered, otherwise, it would be difficult to survive and develop. Lotte Tao On the main objective of the current agency, said she was very calm and the word Hill - to make money. She played a very vivid metaphor, founder of Lotte Tao agency, just as in the revised Highway, a few years ago the task is to repair, and now the road has been repaired, it is necessary to start charging fees, it is to the benefits.

Today, Lotte Tao agency also set a porcelain sculpture of two large plants, to expand the exchange of artists and venues. Zheng Yi very confidently told reporters that she read the relevant leaders in the planning and operation of these notions, have expressed sincere appreciation for the mountain. “I want to Lotte Tao Jingdezhen Ceramic Society into a model of cultural and creative industries so that more people involved so that more of the ‘ceramic people’ to see the creative industries’ money ‘King.” Zheng Yi still enraptured when they talk.

Chaozhou ceramics characteristics held to Shanghai Show

By JDZ-Ceramic

Chaozhou ceramics characteristics held to Shanghai Show

Chow will be the first held in 2009 in Shanghai, Guangdong Chaozhou ceramics and specialty products trade fair, made a special trip to Shanghai and the Chaozhou Municipal Standing Committee of the Executive Vice Mayor Xu Fang said yesterday that the aim of expanding outreach to do domestic demand, capital growth, efforts to mitigate financial crisis the impact of foreign trade for enterprises to create a display of products, exchange information and promote trade cooperation platform for enterprises to promote their products to enhance the capacity of the domestic market.

Scheduled for this month from 11 to 14 in Shanghai Exhibition Center and features of Chaozhou Ceramics Fair, the Ministry of Commerce has been identified as 50 this year, “the expansion of consumption, innovative life” one of the focus of activities. Chaozhou more than 8000 square meters exhibition area, where nearly a hundred key enterprises at home will feature more than 7000 kinds of products, exhibits related to arts and crafts such as ceramics and other categories. Fair will be set to display, sell, trade negotiations, investment promotion activities in one auction.

Basics of Thrown Pottery Forms

By JDZ-Ceramic

Thrown pottery forms can incorporate a number of specific areas, or parts. Bringing the knowledge of those areas to the forefront of your mind as you plan a pot or while throwing can help you create more pleasing pottery. It will also help you develop your own aesthetic or style in your work, simply by giving you a more concrete framework from which to launch your artistic “voice.”

The rim, also sometimes called the lip, is the open upper edge of the pot. Various styles of rims are possible, from the minimalist cut-like opening to elaborate compound ogee rims.

When thinking of your pots’ rims, remember to take into account the use that the pot is likely to be put to. Sharp openings are uncomfortable for drinking, and elaborate ones will make your beaker into a dribble glass. If the function is to hold flowers or some other object, think of how the rim area will help the viewer’s eye make the transition from the pot to the object it is holding.

Neck

The neck of the pot, if there is one, also needs to follow its function. Certain necks are impractical for pottery that is to be used in the kitchen, for storage, or for any purpose that requires a hand to be able to reach its bottom.

The neck should also enhance the feeling you want to impart to your audience. For example, long thin necks tend to “read” as elegant, refined, and sometimes as prissy. Shorter, stout necks often give the user the feeling of sturdiness, stability, and strength.

Shoulder

The shoulder is the area in which there is a fairly obvious and sharp delineation between the neck and the body of the pot. If included in a particular pot, it becomes a strong focal point for the form and should be treated with authority. Tentative direction changes in this area of a pot will weaken the aesthetic feel of the entire vessel.

Waist

Not all pots have waists. As you would expect, when they are present, the waist on a pot is an area in which the form is collared inward. Pottery waists may consist of a strong demarcation between the upper and lower regions, or be a gentle concave curve between the outward swelling of the upper and lower areas it joins together.

Belly

The widest outwardly or convexly swelling area of a pot, especially if it is centered in the lower half of the form, is known as its belly. The belly, waist, and shoulder of a pot, taken together, are often known as the body of the pot.

Foot

Pots may or may not have a foot. When present, the foot is an area that is distinct from the body of the pot, and which is smaller in circumference than the body. The foot raises the pot up and away from whatever surface the pot is standing upon.

Feet are generally viewed as giving a pot more elegance and “presence”; visually they make the pottery form read as lighter. Tactility they can make a pot feel more comfortable in the hand if the pot is small enough for the hand to cup around its base. An overly tall, spindly foot can make a pot look and often actually be unstable.