Stoneware Fish Platter

Materials and Tools:

4 lbs. brown stoneware speckled
water
white slip (liquid clay)
wheel-throwing tools: sponge, rib, wire tool
fettling knife
cup
whisk or electric paint mixer
cone 6 (2150 F degrees) commercial glaze
beeswax
brush
canvas board
kiln
potter's wheel
electric frying pan

Steps:

1. Spiral wedge 4 pounds of stoneware clay and split in half (2 pounds).

2. Throw plate on potter's wheel. Center clay and compress center. Create finished edge.

3. Remove from wheel using wire tool.

4. Repeat with other half of clay.

5. Alter the two clay forms by slinging side to side on canvas board. Use the first plate as the body; cut a tail and fins from the other plate.

6. Lay tail and fins on body and trace/mark location where they will be permanently attached. Score or scratch the back of the parts and the area on the body where the part will be attached. Lay parts on body and begin pressing edges down; finally smoothing down against body. Clean up edges with sponge.

7. The middle of the body is decorated by trailing white slip or liquid clay using a squeeze bottle. The slip serves as contrasting color and design from clay.

8. Let air dry 3 days.

9. Bisque fire in electric kiln to 1848 F degrees.

10. Melt beeswax in frying pan and then brush on to the bottom of fish.

11. Start to mix glaze with electric mixer. Pour glaze all over fish.

12. Load in kiln and fire to 2150 F degrees.