A newfound admiration for ancient potters and their pottery

Amanda Potter showcases her pottery and her inspirations in this latest edition of ACE & Creativity

I used to be interested in pots for their aesthetic and storytelling appeal, like the Achilles and Penthesilea vase at the British Museum (I bought a small copy of this when on holiday in Athens a few years ago). Or for their ability to brighten up my garden, which is filled with Cretan pots of different designs housing different plants, from the small to the extremely large. However, after taking up pottery as an occasional hobby I have become more interested in the process of making.

After two pretty dire attempts at throwing on the wheel, while my smug husband was told by the instructor his pot was ‘perfect’ mine was wobbly, I have been trying out other techniques. Using slabs to make plates, painting with slips and glazes and using the pinch pot and coiling techniques, I realise that the sign of the maker can be a beautiful thing.

So while I still marvel at the skill of ancient put painters, I now also admire the thumb print of the unknown early potter. I think about what was thrown, and look for the joins in large pots, that must have been created by two makers working together. And I have come to enjoy the process of making my own little homages to the works of the potters of the past, and even to see some beauty in their wobbliness.

Early pot from Heraklion Archaeological Museum

Octopus vase from Heraklion

Amanda’s Octopus plate

Amanda’s Gorgon plant pot and other pottery