Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This week, I'm tackling many of the most troubling steps in making teapots. Assembling them is the trickiest part of the process, yet what comes afterwards, waxing them, glazing them and firing them, is incredibly complex. The main issue with all of the above, is that comparatively, I make such a small number of teapots in terms of my output, mugs, bowls and jars dominate, which means I never get as much practice with creating shapes like this.
I'm also testing out a new variant of lid with this vessel, there's an additional groove in the top that I'm trimmed that doesn't serve any function but it's simply a channel into which the glazes can flow and settle into.
The glazing is complicated and how that glaze settles thereafter in the spout and holes that are pierced through the body, can alter how the vessel performs. I'm not after dripless teapots. Nor am I seeking to create pieces that pour with a perfect laminar flow—they're a bonus of course—yet ultimately ensuring both qualities exist in the teapots produced time and time again is an extraordinarily hard thing to achieve.
Anyhow, that's what I'm covering in this weekend's video, the finer details on preparing a vessel like this for firing and how it's tidied up after the fact, too. If you'd like to watch HOW this teapot was thrown, trimmed and assembled, you can find a link to that here: youtu.be/lib6qq1oW8U
Thanks so much for taking your time to watch.
How the teapot was thrown: youtu.be/lib6qq1oW8U
How I mix and use wadding: youtu.be/KCI_LQL3JIs
How to cone clay: youtu.be/69dMLpXosSk
The spinner tools I use: youtu.be/fBK31iuMOHw
📖 • ORDER MY BOOK: geni.us/bymyhands
🏺 • You may also be interested in my 'A Beginner's Guide' series, which you can find here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2WJhtTF0eGhQwf8g2LHcom_KrvJpH_JT
Timecodes:
0:00 - Introduction
2:22 - Cleaning the interior drainage holes & bisque firing
3:35 - Waxing the teapot's body and lid
6:01 - Glazing the teapot
7:32 - Tidying up the glazed surfaces
11:34 - Propping the lid up using wadding & packing the gas kiln
12:42 - Reduction firing the gas kiln
14:24 - Unpacking the teapot
15:32 - Grinding the lid to fit
17:09 - Fixing a wobbly base
17:43 - The pouring test
19:10 - Photographs of the finished piece
•
Find out much more via the link below!
https://linktr.ee/floriangadsby
•
Get in touch here: floriangadsby.com/contact
Sign up to my newsletter here: floriangadsby.com/newsletter
This week, I'm tackling many of the most troubling steps in making teapots. Assembling them is the trickiest part of the process, yet what comes afterwards, waxing them, glazing them and firing them, is incredibly complex. The main issue with all of the above, is that comparatively, I make such a small number of teapots in terms of my output, mugs, bowls and jars dominate, which means I never get as much practice with creating shapes like this.
I'm also testing out a new variant of lid with this vessel, there's an additional groove in the top that I'm trimmed that doesn't serve any function but it's simply a channel into which the glazes can flow and settle into.
The glazing is complicated and how that glaze settles thereafter in the spout and holes that are pierced through the body, can alter how the vessel performs. I'm not after dripless teapots. Nor am I seeking to create pieces that pour with a perfect laminar flow—they're a bonus of course—yet ultimately ensuring both qualities exist in the teapots produced time and time again is an extraordinarily hard thing to achieve.
Anyhow, that's what I'm covering in this weekend's video, the finer details on preparing a vessel like this for firing and how it's tidied up after the fact, too. If you'd like to watch HOW this teapot was thrown, trimmed and assembled, you can find a link to that here: youtu.be/lib6qq1oW8U
Thanks so much for taking your time to watch.
How the teapot was thrown: youtu.be/lib6qq1oW8U
How I mix and use wadding: youtu.be/KCI_LQL3JIs
How to cone clay: youtu.be/69dMLpXosSk
The spinner tools I use: youtu.be/fBK31iuMOHw
📖 • ORDER MY BOOK: geni.us/bymyhands
🏺 • You may also be interested in my 'A Beginner's Guide' series, which you can find here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2WJhtTF0eGhQwf8g2LHcom_KrvJpH_JT
Timecodes:
0:00 - Introduction
2:22 - Cleaning the interior drainage holes & bisque firing
3:35 - Waxing the teapot's body and lid
6:01 - Glazing the teapot
7:32 - Tidying up the glazed surfaces
11:34 - Propping the lid up using wadding & packing the gas kiln
12:42 - Reduction firing the gas kiln
14:24 - Unpacking the teapot
15:32 - Grinding the lid to fit
17:09 - Fixing a wobbly base
17:43 - The pouring test
19:10 - Photographs of the finished piece
•
Find out much more via the link below!
https://linktr.ee/floriangadsby
•
Get in touch here: floriangadsby.com/contact
Sign up to my newsletter here: floriangadsby.com/newsletter
