Square Bottles

Something that developed out of the 52 Form Project in Week 3 was finally getting around to squaring up some bottles. I have long admired case bottles as an historic glass form- squared bottles for storing in a box- and also love the German Westerwald squared bottles.

Book, Steinzeug, Kunstgewerbemuseum der Stadt Koln

Picture the dark part of the bottle being bright, vivid blue!

I lived in Austria and traveled through Germany in the summer of 2007, and went to as many museums and potteries as I could stuff into my time. The book above is one I picked up and am glad I did. It includes photographs of all kinds of German stoneware ("Steinzeug" means "stoneware"), and includes photos of squared bottles.  I saw numerous squared bottles, all highly decorated across Germany. I suspect that the squared bottles were not exported as much as other vessels were, because to my knowledge, there have not been any archaeological excavations with German squared decorated bottles here in the States.

I noted the downfalls of faceting in the aforementioned blog post, and decided to not go the route of faceting the bottle to be square. Instead, I whacked it a few times or more into a nice shape. I made a narrow, ovoid bottle, and as it the clay set up began working it into shape.

I brought back a technique I had not used in several years and mentioned in a 2010 blog post- basically taking the flat end of a tool and by rocking it, created fan and floral patterns on the piece. I used both blue and red slip for the patterns over a white slip ground.

I am excited to see how these turn out in the kiln! 

52 Form Project- Week 3

The 52 Form Project 

What is it?

My 52 Form Project is devised to help me stretch my creative muscles, explore new forms, or finally get to making forms I have been wanting to try for a long time. I am planning to make a new or modified form for every week of this year

How can you help?

Your input on the forms, their shape, decoration, appeal, and function would be greatly appreciated. Some forms, if they seem like they may do well in the market, may become a part of my regular production.

Week 3

Bottles with a garlic dish

This past week was much better than the second week blunder, and perhaps if I get my act together I will actually post photos of the previous week at the end of that week rather than the beginning of the next! For Week 3 I made small bottles for vinegar or oil to accommodate a pouring spout.

Pouring spout sitting in the top of the bottle

 I made these to accompany the garlic dishes I started making late last year.  I have decorated them to compliment the current decoration on the rim of the garlic dish.

Faceted bottles

I returned to faceting, which is something I did for a little while and was enamored with the process. Faceting means that you cut away sections of the clay vessel with various tools. I like to use a cheese slicer!  I had never tried faceting a bottle, and while I am glad I tried it, I don't think I will continue the design.

Downfall of faceting

Of course, in faceting there are always pitfalls such as the photo above. Because you cut away the clay, if the wall of the vessel is not thick enough, you will inevitably cut through the vessel.

Bottles with indentations

I also made a few bottles with indentations on the sides, similar to how I make indentations on the wine cups. I enjoy this design the best, and think I will make a few more for the next firing. They are very comfortable and easily grasped for pouring. Now on to week 4!