What are the 10 golden rules of ceramics?

Are there a few golden rules in pottery that (almost) always apply? – Yes! At Formwerk Berlin we've found that there are a few basic principles that make life easier for every hobby potter. They're jokingly and unofficially called the “golden rules.” If you stick to them, you avoid typical mistakes and enjoy your pieces for longer.

The 10 Golden Rules of Ceramics

Here we present ten golden rules of ceramics – important tips that we follow ourselves in the Formwerk Berlin community and pass on to our course participants.

1. Keep clay moist: Make sure the clay you're working on doesn't dry out. Always cover work in progress well with plastic so it doesn't dry and turn brittle too early. Thin parts dry faster than thick ones – you can additionally cover these with a damp cloth or paper to get even drying. That way you prevent cracks and can pick up again the next day without any problems.
   
   
2. Wedge the clay thoroughly: Before you model the clay or throw it on the wheel, wedge it well. Wedging removes air bubbles and gives you an even consistency. At the same time you align the clay particles, which makes the material more homogeneous and stable. This step takes some strength, but it's essential so your piece doesn't suddenly explode in the kiln because of an air bubble.
   
   
3. Don't work too thick: A common beginner mistake is leaving a piece too thick. Remember this rule of thumb – a literal thumb rule 😉: clay should be no thicker than your thumb. Thick clay walls dry very unevenly (faster on the outside than inside) and can crack during drying or firing. If you do want to make a very solid form, remember to hollow it out later or to leave a small hole in enclosed cavities (see rule 6).
   
   
4. Always use “score and slip”: When you want to join two pieces of clay – for example a handle to a cup, attaching decorative elements or assembling parts of a sculpture – score the contact surfaces and use slip. Clay only sticks to clay when both surfaces are moist and roughened and are “glued” together by the liquid clay slip. Work quickly while the clay is still moist or leather-hard; dry parts can no longer be joined reliably. This score-and-slip method (see also “The 4 S’s of Pottery”) ensures that attached parts stay firmly in place during drying and firing and don't fall off.
   
   
5. Account for shrinkage: Clay shrinks during drying and firing, by roughly 5–15% depending on the type of clay. That's why you should make matching parts at the same time and let them dry evenly, so they still fit together after the bisque firing. Example: a lid and its vessel should be formed from the same clay at the same time and lie next to each other during drying. That way they keep their matching size and shape. Different drying times or types of clay can lead to warping – and suddenly the lid no longer fits the jar.
   
   
6. Let air escape: Make sure not to trap any air. Trapped air in the clay can expand during firing and cause an explosion. So the rule is: hollow out solid forms and drill a small hole so the air can escape. If you're making a thick sculpture, for example, hollow it out from the inside when it's leather-hard. For closed hollow forms (e.g. a hollow ball), use a needle to poke a hole into the interior at an inconspicuous spot. This opening lets the air escape and spares your piece from nasty surprises in the kiln.
   
   
7. Clean before glazing: Before you glaze your fired piece, remove dust and grease from the surface. Wipe the ceramic with a slightly damp sponge so the glaze can adhere evenly. Even the finest clay dust can otherwise keep the glaze from bonding well. So: always wash the piece before the glaze goes on. This gives you a nicer, more even gloss in the glaze firing.
   
   
8. No glaze on the bottom: Never glaze the underside of your piece – at least not the surface it stands on in the kiln. Glaze melts into a glassy layer during firing; if the bottom were glazed, your piece would stick to the kiln shelf during the firing! So always leave a little bit of the base unglazed (the so-called foot ring), or set the piece on small stilts or kiln posts if you absolutely want to glaze all the way around. At Formwerk Berlin, however, we recommend that beginners leave the bottom bare. Your fellow potters in the ceramics studio will thank you – nobody enjoys fused-on “surprises” in the shared kiln.
   
   
9. Handle with care: Always treat your pieces with care – ideally you carry a piece with both hands, especially when it's unfired. Freshly made or leather-hard ceramics can be surprisingly fragile. One moment of carelessness, and your beautiful bowl lies in pieces. So be patient and handle your pieces mindfully. And one more community etiquette rule: never touch other people's work without asking. In our Formwerk Berlin studio this is a matter of absolute honor. Everyone works lovingly on their projects – respect that, no matter how curious someone else's piece makes you.
   
   
10. Cleanliness and safety: Pottery should be wild fun, but your studio should stay clean. Clay dust is harmful to your health if you breathe it in over a long period. That's why you should never dry-sweep dry clay scraps off the table or floor, because it kicks up dust. Use a damp sponge or cloth to wipe down surfaces instead. Keep your workspace tidy, collect clay scraps (you can reuse them if needed, for example to make slip), and avoid eating and drinking right in your pottery corner so no crumbs or liquids contaminate the clay. When you sand or glaze, ventilate well or wear a dust mask. Safety comes first, and then pottery stays enjoyable in the long run.

Finally: Rules or no rules – have fun! 😊 These “golden rules” are meant to help you avoid frustration, but don't let them intimidate you. Everyone starts somewhere, and mistakes happen (even we at Formwerk Berlin have a mishap now and then – that's how you learn!).

Over time these points become second nature, and you will quickly notice that pottery is a wonderful, fulfilling hobby. Stay curious and creative, feel free to swap ideas with others (for example in the Formwerk Berlin community), and never forget why we all make pottery: because we love creating something unique with our hands. Good luck and happy pottery making! 👐

Your Formwerk Berlin Team

Sources

The tips and rules above are based on best practices in ceramics and are shared by many ceramics enthusiasts. A frequently cited list is the “Ten Golden Rules of Ceramics,” which sums up basic principles such as covering clay, joining pieces correctly, and safety. The 4 S method (Score, Slip, Stick, Smooth) is an established way to join clay pieces permanently. It is also taught this way in our classes at Formwerk Berlin.

If you follow all these tips, you're well equipped for your ceramic journey – we at Formwerk Berlin wish you good clay! 🏺