The Big Plates

The final step in my 4 place setting project is the Big Plates.

The Criteria:

• At least 12 inches in diameter
• Completely flat and smooth face
• Proper thickness
• 4 Total

The thing with the Big Plate is that the thickness of the bottom of the piece is crucial. Unlike other pieces, the bottom is what makes up the majority of the plate. The focus on a vase, mug, bowl, etc. is the walls. But plates have the opposite focal points.

Another potter thing is weight- the lighter a piece the better. We potters can tell expertise of a piece's maker by picking it up and feeling the size to weight ratio. Somehow, in college the thickness rule got into my head a little too seriously and I often destroy my pieces chasing thin walls and tiny bottoms. If you measured the thickness of all the bottoms of my pieces, they would be within .001 inches of each other, I automatically open up my clay to the same depth every time.

But with any plate or wide bottom piece, thickness has to increase. And the wider, the thicker it needs to me. For one, it has to support its size. For two, upon completion of the formation, a wire has to be run under the piece to cut it off of the bat. The wire is held tight, pressed down on a hard surface on either side of the piece and then pulled straight under the piece. Inevitably, it draws up in the center requiring the wire to be held as tight as possible, otherwise risking a hole cut in the bottom of your piece. Guess how many times I have cut holes in my plates? My batting average is about .5. Well, thats what it feels like when I ruin a freshly made plate at least. So, I consciously have to force myself to leave extra clay in the base of my plate AND use a ball of clay that looks way too big.

So, here is a glimpse of the process... There's the size ball of clay I started with in the background there... and there is the clay after being centered, being flattened out.

And here is the finished product- a Big Plate as big as my bat would allow with questionable thickness.

This thing is heavy. 4-5 lbs I would estimate.

My Big Plate! It's 14 inches but will shrink down to my desired 12 as the water leaves.

And here's a mug. Always have to throw one of these into the mix. Can never have enough.

I now have two completed Big Plates and waited over night to cut them off since I was scared to face the final test. And guess what, I did it. Cut them both on my kitchen table today and made a huge mess on my white carpet and table but all came out well- no holes in my 14 inch plates!

Two down, two to go.