Experienced potter Henry Leighton has spent years creating potteries and ceramic objects of his own and for others: this is his practical, all-encompassing guide, complete with step-by-step illustrations. A brilliant introduction to making pottery by hand, this book introduces the reader at first to the philosophy and notions of design possessed by every good potter. When is making quality earthenware an art form, and when it is simple manufacture of a product? What distinguishes ordinary pottery from porcelain? The book delves into the materials and clay necessary, and the methods and distinctions in crafting. Important qualities such as the porosity and plasticity of clay, and the various kinds of clay useful for making quality earthenware, are discussed. We're also instructed how, and in what proportions, we should mix clay to achieve an ideal consistency for either earthenware or porcelain.