Date of Award

5-2024

Degree Type

Honors College Thesis

Academic Program

Art BA

Department

Art and Design

First Advisor

Allen Chen, M.F.A.

Advisor Department

Art and Design

Abstract

This project is aimed towards the production of a suitable bowl set and glaze for tableware usage using locally extracted and processed clay. My interest in this topic stems from the goal of improving my pottery-making skills and knowledge through immersion in clay sourcing, processing, and producing quality tableware. This project gave me hands-on insight and admiration for pottery sourcing and production. Five local clay bodies were sourced, and two were processed to create bowl forms and glazes. Results were documented on which clay body was ideal for durable and easy maintenance tableware. A red clay body was sourced from Red Bluff in Marion County Foxworth, MS, and a brown clay body from Lake Thoreau in Hattiesburg, MS. During the processing step each clay body was sifted through different mesh sizes to separate any debris. Afterward, the clay was placed on a plaster slab for drying. Once dried, each clay was wedged with ball clay for more plasticity, which made the clay malleable. For the glaze test, brown clay was used instead of red due to less debris concentration. Brown clay was mixed with increments of dry ingredients from a copper red glaze called Pete’s Red created by Pete Pinnell. The glaze was chosen for its glossy texture, suitable for an easy clean. After producing bowls on the pottery wheel with each clay body and bisque firing, the red clay was determined to be better suited for bowl functionality and brown for glaze functionality This paper will discuss the pros and cons of ceramic tableware compared to other tableware materials, the methods used for pottery production, and my analysis.

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