Marwood. "It is a very simple
contrivance, you see--just a round piece of board set horizontally on
top of a revolving spindle. As the disc turns the potter shapes the
clay with his fingers, building it up to the desired height and
moulding it to conform to the profile, or pattern, he keeps beside
him. This profile is of wood or steel, and gives the elevation of the
object in actual size. As he works the potter constantly consults and
measures it. Pieces made in this fashion are known as thrown ware. All
the finest potteries, as well as some of the most expensive
porcelains, are made in this way. However, it is a costly process and
rather slow, for a piece thus shaped must have the entire attention of
a single worker. If we were to make all our china by this method I do
not know where we should bring up. It would take us a decade, and cost
us a great deal of money. But by this means the most artistic results
are obtained. It was in this fashion that the Greeks modeled their
matchless vases, and you can now see why no two of them were
alike. Each potter put his soul into the thing he was making, and as
he had endless time at his command he worked with utmost care to
perfect his product.
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