CeramicsHiram Guild flagship
The Octopus Amphora
Wheel-thrown stoneware amphora floor vessel · 32" H × 16" D
- Recipe
- Floor vesselMinoan artWaterBiomorphic
- Made by
- Potters & ceramicists 887 in the Hiram Guild
The Four Causes · engineering breakdown01
How it is built.
I
Material cause
Hyle: what it is made of
Cone 10 speckled stoneware with grog for the relief; iron-red slip; wood-ash glaze outside, liner glaze inside.
II
Formal cause
Morphē: its form and measure
32" H × 16" D fired. Throw about 36" wet (12–13% shrinkage). Octopus in relief up to 1½" proud; two tentacle handles attached at both ends.
III
Efficient cause
The Guild's makers: who makes it, and how
Potter and ceramic sculptor. Throw two sections, join leather-hard, model the octopus on the wall, pull and attach the tentacle handles, dry for weeks under plastic, bisque, slip, glaze, reduction or wood firing.
IV
Final cause
The client's use: what it is for
A floor vessel for branches; watertight inside.
Build it · specify it02
Fabrication questions for makers.
- Can you throw cone 10 speckled stoneware in two sections, about 36 inches tall wet, and join them leather-hard?
- Can you model an octopus in relief up to 1½ inches proud, and pull and attach two tentacle handles at both ends?
- Can you dry a piece this size for weeks under plastic, then bisque, slip and glaze it?
- Do you fire in reduction or with wood?
- Can you make it watertight inside with a liner glaze, under iron-red slip and wood-ash glaze outside?
Options for interior designers.
- Size: 32" H × 16" D fired (thrown about 36" wet, 12–13% shrinkage).
- Firing: reduction or wood.
- Use: a floor vessel for branches, watertight inside.
Made by · made of03
MATERIALS
- StonewareClay & ceramics
- Ash glazeClay & ceramics
- GrogClay & ceramics
Spec sheet · www.renaissanceml.com/specs/octopus-amphora