(no subject)

[morgaina]

This one from the Chicago Art Museum was Afhganistan 11th-12th Century. Exciting to me because I've done some experiments like this. This is quite a large platter, 15" dia.
Click on pic for better detail.




This is the ancient potter's wheel from Mesopotamia in the Oriental Institute Museum

The Museum catalogue is beautiful, but I'm going to wait to buy it until it comes down in price, which Jenny & Deva say they do after the show is down and then maybe a couple of years.

Comments

[earcmacfithil.livejournal.com]

Boy, I really hope the unevenness of that wheel is due to age-related degradation. Otherwise, how, in the name of Grapthar's Hammer, could one throw on that thing?!?!?! Maybe we're just spoiled by having modern machined wheelheads.

[copper-oxide.livejournal.com]

Hey! Good to hear from you.
The lighter part of the wheel is where it has been reconstructed. The slightly darker part is the original clay and is very rough with visible temper/sand showing, so possibly it is age-related degradation.
But yes, even when newly made it doesn't look like it could have been very flat.

[earcmacfithil.livejournal.com]

I was thinking that the only way I'd be able to throw on something like that would be to throw off the hump in a big way! I also keep thinking this sort of thing whenever I see medieval European illuminations showing potters at wheels. But then again, I suppose one would adapt to the limitations of one's tools.

[copper-oxide.livejournal.com]

Sure, the skill is more important than the tools.
Some of the ceramics they had on display were BEAUTIFULLY thrown and elegant shapes so i's possible to do very handsome work.