Saturday, May 24, 2014

Actual Pottery Related Post

Hi there. Since Spring Fair, I've posted a song and a pitch for Tony Clennells' book but not much about pottery making. Well, for a couple of weeks, I wasn't making anything but this week I started getting back into it. I often get requests for covered casseroles but don't usually make them. They are time consuming and when I compare that to a $30 open baking dish I have trouble charging enough to make them pay. I have to make a gallery in the body of the pot, throw another pot for the lid  (that fits said gallery), put a handle on the lid, put two lugs on the body of the pot and get them to line up and match each other. Their bowlish nature also requires extra trimming because the lid has to be heavy enough to support itself without sagging on the wheel. I think this turns a $30 baker into an $80 or $90 pot but the market seems to be about $50 to $60 around here. I would love to hear how some of you other potters handle this.

Having some time on my hands and needing some big bowls. I threw the bowls. Then I said well, make a couple of the lidded casseroles for the fall shows. My approach was to standardize as much as possible. All the information I need is written on a measuring stick that sizes the gallery the body of the pot and the lid.

 
No need to look things up as long as I can find the stick.
 No calipers to knock out of adjustment, no ruler to read, and the lids
are generally interchangeable.
 
 
Here are a couple of shots for lid fit. These lids are not quite as dry as the bowls so the gap will increase slightly. No I don't have issues with warping or spreading.
 





Lastly, Tina decided she needed something a little roomier to haul her dogs in. She claimed this thing followed her home.

 
Thanks for stopping by and if you have any thoughts on making or pricing casseroles, please chime in using the comment section.

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5 comments:

  1. Michèle HastingsMay 24, 2014 at 1:18 PM

    We sell 2 quart casseroles with carving or texture for $95, one quart $60. I have sold one quart with no deco for $40.
    That sure is a sweet looking rv!

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  2. Linda StarrMay 24, 2014 at 3:05 PM

    oh rv'ing is so much fun and great tip on the measuring stick.

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  3. Sandy MillerMay 28, 2014 at 7:58 AM

    Currently testing new clay for ovenware..... it's always freaked me out that a casserole would break in the oven or worse on the antique table. Before I got kinda smart about clay composition I sold 2+ qt casseroles for $68. I think we're in the same market....... It's a quandary. I think you retire or pay for the gas in you new spiffy RV if make a million of those sticks and take them to NCECA :) great idea!

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  4. Dennis AllenMay 28, 2014 at 1:54 PM

    Thanks Sandy. I was about to come down with "comment envy" after looking at other blogs by the more popular kids.. This post has had over 400 visits and 3 comments What does a guy have to do? Those are "special" sticks from trees grown next to Bernard Leach's kiln site. Very rare and expensive but I could find a few more. I'm using Highwater Earthen Red @cone 6 for oven ware. Have been for several years and get lots of compliments from previous buyers and never a problem. A buddy likes a groggy ^10 stoneware from Continental and sells a ton of oven ware.

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownJanuary 8, 2015 at 12:52 AM

    Interesting blog. This is one of my favorite blog also I want you to update more post like this. Thanks for sharing this article.
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    ReplyDelete

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