What is coiling and coil pottery?

What is the coiling method of ceramics? Coil pottery, or more accurately coiling, is a pottery hand-building technique using coils, which are long rolled sausages of clay. The coils are built up into a shape and then joined, compacted, and smoothed into a seamless surface. The method is mostly for making vases, storage jars, sculptural shapes and sometimes bowls. As a technique it lends itself well to making larger pieces compared to other pottery making methods. It also has the advantage of making asymmetrical pieces.

Coil pots from our classes:

Coil pottery from professionals and made in our pottery classes for inspiration: