To divide the pot evenly into five sections I made a template of thick paper to fit on the wheel head. The template is marked with lines at 72 degree intervals to create a pentagonal form.
I centered the little jar and used a flat board to push in on the sides. (As I did so, the neck became distorted so I had to straighten it and lighten up on the pressure while flattening the remaining sides.) I then applied a sprig to each little flat area.
Sprigs are shapes made of clay which are attached to the surface of a finished piece. If you are familiar with Wedgewood, you have seen sprigging: all the white figures that stand out from the surface of the blue clay are made with sprigs. Below you see I am pushing soft clay into the bisque mold:
Molds for sprigs are made of clay into which an object has been pressed, thereby creating an indentation in the clay in the shape of that object. The clay mold is then bisque fired and used to create sprigs. To make the sprig itself, soft clay is pressed into the indentation in the bisque mold, and then pulled out to produce a shape that matches the original object. (The bisque mold will release the soft clay easily; a wet metal blade pressed onto the back of the soft clay sprig helps pull it up and out of the mold.)
Below are a couple other pieces which use sprigging as their decoration. A vase, as unglazed and glazed, then an orchid pot as unglazed and glazed.
So, now I have sprigging to add to my collection of favorite ways to decorate my pots! ttfn
