You've probably seen it in a boutique ceramics studio or a high-end gallery. That mesmerizing, rhythmic texture on the side of a vase that looks like a coil was frozen in time. People often call it circling vessels in the pots fashion, a bit of a mouthful, but it basically refers to the intentional preservation of "throwing rings" or "coil marks" during the creation process.
It's raw. It's honest.
In a world where mass-produced IKEA mugs are sanded down to a soulless, plastic-like perfection, this style screams "a human made this." But here is the thing: what looks like a happy accident is actually a high-wire act of technical skill. If you mess up the pressure by even a fraction of a millimeter, your beautiful vessel becomes a slumped pile of mud on the wheel.
Why We Are Obsessed With the Raw Look
There is this Japanese concept called Wabi-sabi. It is about finding beauty in imperfection and the natural cycle of growth and decay. When a potter leaves the marks of their fingers—those circling ridges—they are leaving a physical record of the time spent at the wheel. It's a timestamp.
Honestly, it's a rebellion against the machine.
Most beginners try to hide their mistakes. They use metal ribs and sponges to scrape the surface until it’s as smooth as a marble countertop. But the pros? They know that circling vessels in the pots fashion requires a specific kind of confidence. You are essentially saying, "The way I moved my hands is more interesting than a perfectly flat surface."
Think about the work of Lucie Rie or even contemporary potters like Florian Gadsby. While Gadsby is known for precision, the subtle variation in his surface texture tells you exactly how the clay was manipulated. It’s not just a pot; it’s a performance.
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The Physics of the Ridge
How does it actually happen? When you are "throwing" a pot on a spinning wheel, you use your fingers to pull the clay upward. This creates centrifugal force. As your hands move from the bottom to the top, they create a spiral. If you move your hands quickly while the wheel spins slowly, you get wide, chunky ridges. If the wheel is fast and your hands are slow, the lines are tight and fine.
It's basically a dance between RPMs and vertical velocity.
The Problem With "Fake" Texture
Lately, there’s been a trend of people "faking" this look. They throw a smooth pot and then go back in with a tool to carve lines. You can usually tell. The lines look clinical. They lack the organic "wobble" that comes from the clay resisting the pressure of a human finger. Real circling vessels in the pots fashion have a slight variation in depth because the clay has different densities as it moves up the wall.
- Hand-pulled ridges feel soft and rounded.
- Tooled ridges feel sharp and artificial.
- Coiled vessels (not thrown) show "joins" rather than a continuous spiral.
If you’re looking to buy a piece, look at the bottom. The spiral should start at the base and move in a single, unbroken journey to the rim. That’s the mark of a master.
Glaze Interaction: Where the Magic Happens
The real reason potters love this technique isn't just the touch—it's the chemistry. Glaze is basically liquid glass. When it's fired in a kiln to 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit, it becomes fluid.
It runs.
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On a smooth pot, the glaze just sits there. It's one flat color. But on circling vessels in the pots fashion, the glaze pools in the valleys of the ridges and thins out on the peaks. This is called "breaking." If you use a Celadon or a Shino glaze, the ridges will be a light, almost translucent color, while the grooves will be deep, dark, and rich. It creates a 3D effect that you just can't get any other way.
It’s the difference between a flat painting and a sculpture.
Is This Technique Actually Durable?
There is a common misconception that these ridges make the pot weaker. "Won't it crack in the dishwasher?" people ask.
The short answer: No.
Actually, in some cases, those ridges can act like structural ribs, similar to the corrugated metal on a shipping container. However, there is a limit. If the "valleys" between the ridges are too deep, you create "stress points." If the pot is fired too fast or cooled too quickly, those thin spots can develop "S-cracks."
You've got to find the balance. A good potter ensures the wall thickness remains relatively consistent even while the surface texture varies wildly. It’s a trick of the trade—pushing from the inside to create the ridge without actually thinning the wall to a dangerous level.
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How to Master Circling Vessels in the Pots Fashion
If you are a hobbyist or an aspiring pro, don't just "leave" the marks. You have to curate them.
First, get your clay centered. This is non-negotiable. If the clay isn't perfectly in the middle, your ridges will be "lumpy" instead of "circling." Once you start your final pull, slow the wheel down.
Increase the pressure of your outside fingertip.
Don't stop. Don't stutter. Move your hand in one fluid motion from the base to the lip. If you pause, you get a "blob" of clay that ruins the rhythm. Most people fail because they get nervous halfway up and speed up their hand movement. Stay steady.
Real-World Examples of the Style
- Ancient Jomon Pottery: Thousands of years ago in Japan, potters used cords to create "cord-marked" patterns. This was the ancestor of the modern circling aesthetic.
- British Studio Pottery: In the 20th century, the likes of Bernard Leach embraced the "mark of the maker," moving away from the industrial perfection of the Victorian era.
- Modern Minimalist Ceramics: Walk into any West Elm or Crate & Barrel today, and you’ll see mass-produced versions of this. They are trying to capture the "handmade" feel because consumers are tired of digital perfection.
Actionable Next Steps for Collectors and Creators
Whether you are looking to buy or looking to build, keep these specific points in mind to ensure quality.
- For Collectors: Run your thumb across the ridges. They should feel intentional and smooth to the touch, not scratchy or sharp. Look for "glaze breaks"—where the color changes intensity over the ridges. This is the sign of a high-quality firing.
- For Potters: Practice "ghost pulls." Move your hands up the air next to the spinning pot to get the rhythm of your arm movement right before you actually touch the clay. This builds the muscle memory needed for consistent circling.
- Maintenance: Functional ware with heavy ridges can trap food particles if the glaze isn't "food safe" or if it has "crazing" (tiny cracks). Always check that the interior of the vessel is smooth, even if the exterior is textured, to make cleaning easier.
- Lighting matters: If you own a piece like this, don't put it in a dark corner. Use "raking light"—light that comes from the side. This will cast shadows in the grooves and make the circling pattern pop, turning a simple pot into a piece of art that changes throughout the day as the sun moves.
The beauty of circling vessels in the pots fashion lies in the fact that no two pieces can ever be identical. Even if the same potter uses the same clay and the same wheel, the unique pressure of that specific moment is captured forever. It's a physical record of a human heartbeat in a world of algorithms.