Wheel vs. Hand Made Vessels

In antiquity, both hand and wheel made vessels were produced. Depending on the intended use of an item, and the nature of the manufacturer, the methods of execution would vary.  For practical and domestic purposes, pottery was often made by hand. The coil method was a common technique in which long strands of clay were wound and layered to build up the walls of a vessel.  For mere functional purposes, the simpler and quicker pinch-pot fashion was used.  Here a section of clay is flattened and pinched up at the edges to form the sides.  For more professional and commercial purposes, however, hand building was rather inefficient.  These potters likely used a kick-wheel equipped with a dense stone flywheel for steady and even rotation. Vessels made using this device were symmetrical, having a uniform wall thickness. Potter’s wheels were also used in conjunction with moulds for the mass production and commercial distribution of ceramic wares. Moulds would ensure nearly identical results, and allow for a swift and steady rate of production.