Turning听is a process of removing excess clay from a wheel-thrown, leather-hard vase. The same procedure is called trimming听when the vase is handmade. The process allows the potter to that is too thick or unattractive, as well as to provide shape to elements like foots of cups.听
To turn a vase, a potter听places the vase upside-down on the wheel. She or he then uses tools, such as a loop tool or a scraper, to remove the excess clay from the vessel as it turns. Once a vessel has been turned, it is ready for decoration and听the addition of appendages like handles and spouts.
This essay was written to accompany a听collection of Greek artifacts at the CU Art Museum.听
References
- Toby Schreiber,听Athenian Vase Construction: A Potter's Analysis听(Malibu: The J. Paul Getty Museum, 1999): 21-22.