What is the process of forming clay on a potter's wheel called?

• A. Wheel Thrown
• B. Pinch Pots
• C. Slab Built
• D. Coiled Pots

Answer: (A)

Wheel throwing is the process of forming clay on a potter's wheel. The artist centers a lump of clay on a spinning wheel, then uses hands and fingers to open the clay, pull up the walls, and shape it into a vessel as the wheel turns. Water helps keep the clay pliable and smooth throughout the forming. This method yields symmetrical, rounded forms like bowls and vases when done with steady, practiced motions. Other methods—pinch pots, which are formed by pinching the clay between fingers; slab built, where flat slabs are joined to make walls; and coiled pots, built from rolled coils—do not involve a rotating wheel, so they produce different construction techniques and forms.