Customer Reviews

The Potter's Directory of Shape and Form (Ceramics)

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

 

 

... well illustrated with photos of every type of shape and form... a picture book for potters! A fun reminder of forms often forgotten when busy producing a "type" of piece. Broken down into seven sections; including holloware, flatware and decorative, and further sub-sectioned by pages specifically for lids, handles and feet... each page has a color-coded technique key, as well as a photo example and drawn example of each shape or form. This well layed out and easy to follow book is a definite asset to any potter's library. Also includes term glossary.

....but I was a tad disappointed with the slight bias towards forms with lids and handles. Despite this, the book is a great guide for beginner and intermediate level pottery enthusiasts (using either hand throwing and coiling methods)as it contains a lot of ideas to make your next project! A good book to have if you are just starting out and want to break away from the traditional shapes of bowls and pots.

This book consists of silhouettes and photos of various pottery forms. Very interesting design resource.

However, a better buy would be Neal French's "The Potter's Encyclopedia of Color, Form and Decoration: The Comprehensive References for Today's Ceramicist". It includes the exact contents of this book, along with Constant & Ogden's "Potter's Palette", along with some pages of additional decoration photos. (For that reason I'm giving this one only two stars).

....but I was a tad disappointed with the slight bias towards forms with lids and handles. Despite this, the book is a great guide for beginner and intermediate level pottery enthusiasts (using either hand throwing and coiling methods)as it contains a lot of ideas to make your next project! A good book to have if you are just starting out and want to break away from the traditional shapes of bowls and pots. Great glossary and layout as well.