The Big Book of Ceramics: A Guide to the History, Materials, Equipment and Techniques of Hand-Building, Throwing, Molding, Kiln-Firing and Glazing Pottery and Other Ceramic Objects [Paperback]

Joaquim Chavarria (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1994

In this exhaustive introduction to ceramics, all the materials, equipment, and techniques of the craft are presented clearly and accessibly. An easy-to-follow text is accompanied by hundreds of color photographs and schematic drawings that illustrate every material, technique, piece of equipment, and step-by-step demonstration.



The book begins with a history of ceramics that covers techniques and styles from various periods and parts of the world. Then clays and glazes are introduced, with details on the diffrent types and their compositions, as well as instruction on how to prepare them. Next, kilns, kiln furniture, potters' wheels, and other equipment and tools are illustrated and thier uses demonstrated. The core of the book is dedicated to presenting the full range of ceramic techniques: hand-building, molding, throwing, glazing, and firing. In the final section, step-by-step projects show how to employ these techniques to create a variety of vessles and sculptural forms.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Spanish

About the Author

Joaquim Chavarria has been a professor of ceramics and sculpture at the Escuela Massana in Barcelona, Spain, since 1976.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill; First U.S. edition (September 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823005089
• ISBN-13: 978-0823005086
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 0.6 x 11.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #317,723 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

82 of 84 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most complete ceramics book, must-have reference, September 5, 2001

By 

Angel Lee "Liocorno Amethyst Moonstone" (Cleveland, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Big Book of Ceramics: A Guide to the History, Materials, Equipment and Techniques of Hand-Building, Throwing, Molding, Kiln-Firing and Glazing Pottery and Other Ceramic Objects (Paperback)

This is the most complete all-in-one ceramics book I have seen. It is a must-have reference book for anyone involved in the craft as it is packed with information on all aspects of ceramic work with full-color photos and detailed step-by-step demonstrations.

The book starts out with a great history of ceramics throughout the world. Then materials and equipment are also covered including types of clay, clay mixtures and modeling tools. Hand-building techniques follow including pinch pots, coiling, hollowing out, slab-building and using clay strips. Using these techniques, you learn to make a box with a lid, a cylindrical pot, a cube-shaped box, a bowl and a vase.

Details on kilns and firing are next. This includes lots of helpful illustrations as well as advice on packing the kiln and measuring the temperature. Information is included on bonfire, pit, sawdust, wood, coal, oil, gas, electric and salt-glaze firing. Then glazing is covered including an overview of basic coloring oxides, other materials used in glazes, the Seger formula for glaze calculation, glaze preparation, and types of glazes. Several glazing methods are demonstrated including dipping, pouring, and using a brush or spray-gun.

A molding section follows with information on mold preparation, the drying process and creating waste and press molds. Projects include a hollow cast vase and a press mold plate. A great chapter on throwing is next. This includes basic techniques for making bowls, plates, cylinders, vases, and lids.

The final section offers complete step-by-step instructions for over 12 different projects. Some include a thrown teapot, an open vase with coils, an abstract sculpture with clay strips, a pinched bottle and a solid organic looking sculpture.

A helpful glossary and index are also included. Whether you are just starting out or have been creating ceramics for a while you will find much to enjoy and learn in this book.

103 of 109 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great book to start off with!, July 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Big Book of Ceramics: A Guide to the History, Materials, Equipment and Techniques of Hand-Building, Throwing, Molding, Kiln-Firing and Glazing Pottery and Other Ceramic Objects (Paperback)

This book makes everything (in ceramics) seem possible for anyone. Photographs lead you through every kind of ceramic creation, from a simple pinch pot to making a teapot on a potter's wheel. There are even sections on the history of ceramics and making your own molds. Every page is filled with close-up color pictures... more than 700! This book helped to get me an A in my first college ceramics class (a rarity, I've been told). Thanks Mr. Chavarria!

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Big Book of Ceramics, November 6, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Big Book of Ceramics: A Guide to the History, Materials, Equipment and Techniques of Hand-Building, Throwing, Molding, Kiln-Firing and Glazing Pottery and Other Ceramic Objects (Paperback)

I was so absolute beginner in ceramics and afraid of even touching a clay. In the same day I got the book I've made my first piece. And... was satisfied :=)
Guy is great, I've bought two more books by this author, and was thrilled even more, it's great book to begin with, but also to stick with all the time... full of good information, practical advices, things that you just can't find a person to ask and many many pictures that helps so much.
Anyway, you won't regret buying it.