Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Bottles are awkward pots for me. Over the years I've tried to create a variant that feels as if it fits within my family or work in an appropriate way. I think the issue is that they fundamentally feel like quite "traditional" forms, and thus this immediately sets them apart when positioned alongside many of my other pots.
Ultimately though, they should stand out. Bottles are essentially vase forms after all, they're standalone, almost decorative pots that are meant to have a presence and thus, in this weekend's YouTube video, that's precisely what I'll be tackling. From the throwing on the potter's wheel, the trimming using a chuck, the waxing, glazing, fettling and finally, the reduction firing to cone ten, (1290º).
There's also a slight issue that arose towards the end that had to do with glaze flowing and sticking on the internal portion of the foot-wells, my fault, and so I show you how I deal with what are really very subtle defects in a way that just quietly hides them.
Thanks so much for taking your precious time to watch! I really do appreciate it as always, have a lovely weekend!
How to cone clay: youtu.be/69dMLpXosSk
How I threw these bottles: youtu.be/rGWdMp06Ffk
How I trimmed these bottles: youtu.be/kVUL1DicNjM
How to make chucks: youtu.be/_ishJr-UGfU
📚 • You'll find many more guides on how to centre and pull up the walls of clay here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2WJhtTF0eGhQwf8g2LHcom_KrvJpH_JT
📖 • ORDER MY BOOK: geni.us/bymyhands
📢 • Find out much more about my work here: https://linktr.ee/floriangadsby
⏱ • Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction & the tools I use
1:26 - Preparing the clay, 1.1 kg
2:31 - Throwing the bottle forms
16:55 - Trimming the bottle forms
21:39 - Packing the pots for a biscuit firing
22:56 - Waxing the bottles
23:32 - Glazing the bottles
25:30 - Tidying the glazed surfaces
27:44 - Packing and reduction firing my gas kiln
28:54 - Unpacking the bottles and sanding their bases
30:20 - Fixing the the drips with a Dremel and tile sealant
33:23 - Tidying up
*I throw using both a Rohde HMT 500 & 600 potter's wheel and fire using Rohde kilns too, the electric is a TE-200 and the gas kiln is a KG-340.
____
Instagram – instagram.com/floriangadsby
TikTok – tiktok.com/@floriangadsby
Website – floriangadsby.com
Bottles are awkward pots for me. Over the years I've tried to create a variant that feels as if it fits within my family or work in an appropriate way. I think the issue is that they fundamentally feel like quite "traditional" forms, and thus this immediately sets them apart when positioned alongside many of my other pots.
Ultimately though, they should stand out. Bottles are essentially vase forms after all, they're standalone, almost decorative pots that are meant to have a presence and thus, in this weekend's YouTube video, that's precisely what I'll be tackling. From the throwing on the potter's wheel, the trimming using a chuck, the waxing, glazing, fettling and finally, the reduction firing to cone ten, (1290º).
There's also a slight issue that arose towards the end that had to do with glaze flowing and sticking on the internal portion of the foot-wells, my fault, and so I show you how I deal with what are really very subtle defects in a way that just quietly hides them.
Thanks so much for taking your precious time to watch! I really do appreciate it as always, have a lovely weekend!
How to cone clay: youtu.be/69dMLpXosSk
How I threw these bottles: youtu.be/rGWdMp06Ffk
How I trimmed these bottles: youtu.be/kVUL1DicNjM
How to make chucks: youtu.be/_ishJr-UGfU
📚 • You'll find many more guides on how to centre and pull up the walls of clay here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2WJhtTF0eGhQwf8g2LHcom_KrvJpH_JT
📖 • ORDER MY BOOK: geni.us/bymyhands
📢 • Find out much more about my work here: https://linktr.ee/floriangadsby
⏱ • Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction & the tools I use
1:26 - Preparing the clay, 1.1 kg
2:31 - Throwing the bottle forms
16:55 - Trimming the bottle forms
21:39 - Packing the pots for a biscuit firing
22:56 - Waxing the bottles
23:32 - Glazing the bottles
25:30 - Tidying the glazed surfaces
27:44 - Packing and reduction firing my gas kiln
28:54 - Unpacking the bottles and sanding their bases
30:20 - Fixing the the drips with a Dremel and tile sealant
33:23 - Tidying up
*I throw using both a Rohde HMT 500 & 600 potter's wheel and fire using Rohde kilns too, the electric is a TE-200 and the gas kiln is a KG-340.
____
Instagram – instagram.com/floriangadsby
TikTok – tiktok.com/@floriangadsby
Website – floriangadsby.com
