About 5000 years ago in ancient Egypt, potters developed the first potter’s wheel --a technology used to form symmetrical round vessels. Potters’ wheels are still very much in use today. Below a ceramist (Richard “Rico” Piper) uses an electric potter’s wheel to throw a vessel.

	He centers the clay on the wheel ...
.. makes a center opening, ...	... establishes the base, and ...
... pulls a cylinder.
Then he changes the profile (outside shape of the vessel) while supporting the form from the inside.

Finally, he cuts the finished piece from the wheel with a wire. It must now dry completely to a “bone dry” stage, when it will be called “greenware” and will be ready to fire.

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