Slab Building: Working with Sheets of Clay
Photo: Taya Kucherova / Unsplash
Slab building starts by rolling clay out into even sheets, much like pastry. These slabs are then cut to shape and joined together while still soft, their edges scored and dabbed with slip — liquid clay that acts as glue — to fuse them securely.
The method suits angular, geometric pieces: square dishes, straight-sided vases, boxes. It rewards precision and planning, almost like working from a sewing pattern. A maker must think ahead, because clay shrinks and stiffens as it dries.
Slab work shows off a different side of the craft — clean lines and flat planes rather than the soft curves of the wheel. In skilled hands it bridges pottery and sculpture.
