Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

I was disappointed after receiving this book. While it gave a nice overview of different types of ceramics, it did not give the detailed information I was looking for. The summary on wheel throwing was relatively small and gave virtually no information regarding types of wheels or information on selecting one. The description of the book does seem a bit misleading...leading one to believe that this book would be an invaluable, detailed reference source. I found this not to be the case and would not recommend it for those looking for a reference document.

Pleasing to the eye but it surely fails to live up to the promise of its title. The instructions on constructing and throwing pots is adequate (though scanty).The sections on other aspects of the craft are more an outline than a guide. Disappointed, I searched our local community college library and found several comprehensive instructional texts on ceramics that were bigger and better than this book - though most were written 30 years ago.

This is one of the most helpful pottery books I have seen. It clearly illustrates how to perpare and throw. I reccomend it to my students.

The Big Book of Ceramics is a fabulous photographic guide through the fundamentals of clay building.

This book covers all major types of clay and ceramic activities. If you are interested in only one type (for example, casting in a mold from clay slip)it may not give you as much information as you want. If you are curious about clay, generally, or want an overview to decide what you might like to try, this is a very useful book. The illustrations and directions are very clear.

A true guide on technique,
but also to build excitment and passion for this craft.

This book shows step-by-step processes for working with clay that are accompanied by written and verbal explanations. The book is comprehensive and perfect for those beginning or intermediate level ceramicists. As an art teacher, I find the descriptions and sequential nature of the book incredibly useful. The book came as described--sealed, new from the publisher. Through Amazon, I found the best prices for the book and am happy with my purchase.