Slab House Luminary or Bird House

Slab Project
Asian Lantern or Tea Pot
Beginning Ceramics
Author: Christine Burris
Asian Lantern Requirements
• If you are going to create an Asian lantern for your slab project the
requirements are:
• At least 10“ tall by 5” wide in total size.
• The edges, walls and seams should be even and flat, no wrinkles in
the clay.
• Have a handle/finial on the roof.
• Be made of slabs.
• Glazed finish. Clean edges on the bottom of the lid and top of box.
• Name and Period on the bottom.
Tea pot Requirements
If You are going to assemble your stiff slab container
into a tea pot.
It should be at least 6” tall by 6” wide in the body.
Smooth Finish
Sharp Crisp Corners
Fitted Indexed Lid
Functional spout
Sculpted Handle on Lid
Glazed completely
Name and Period on bottom.
Use a wire cutter to make even slabs.
Either use the templates to cut you
slabs….
Or: Use a ruler to help you cut a straight line.
(Tip: If you want a 90` corner - lay a piece of
paper over the clay to show the 90' corner.)
• When your clay is leather hard use a needle or sharp
pencil to score the edges of the clay where the clay will be
joined together.
Apply slip to the areas you just scored.
When placing the edges together slide the two surfaces together in a
slight back and forth motion to strengthen the bond between the
surfaces.
*With experience you will get the feel of a good bond. You will know
you have a good bond when most of the slip has squeezed out between
the two surfaces being joined together. Also, the clay will not want to
slide back and forth easily.
Sometimes curved walls can be
complicated to slip together and need
to be assembled on their sides .
• To make the seem stronger place a coil in the corners of the
piece. Gently press the coil into the corner. Be careful not
to break your corner away.
Use a damp brush to smooth out all the corners so the seams are no longer
visible.
Assemble the final project and fine
tune the details.
"Nut Teapot," 2005
Slab-built ceramic with bronze glaze
7" high x 12" wide This teapot was made as a comment
on the industrialization of the home.
Yixing Traditional Square Teapot
Length: 7" Width: 5"
Height: 7"
Square teapot with curved
rattan handle, black
matte glaze outside and
shiny crackle grazed teal
lid.. 9”h.