Published: June 15, 2018 By

Wedging is a method of working clay to eliminate air pockets and give it a uniform consistency before it is thrown on a wheel or shaped by hand. This process was necessary because clay that has hard lumps or soft areas can cause deformations during throwing (1). In ancient Greece, clay was wedged by hand. The process essentially involves folding a lump of clay over itself repeatedly in a process similar to kneading dough. 

This essay was written to accompany a collection of Greek artifacts at the CU Art Museum

Footnote

  1. Tony Schreiber, Athenian Vase Construction: A Potter's Analysis (Malibu, CA: J. Paul Getty Museum, 1999): 9