Ancient civilizations: the use of pottery

The use of pottery began as early as in 7000 B.C. The term 'pottery' refers to the activity or skill of making clay objects by hand, as well as the clay objects that are made as a result of this activity. Some examples of pottery include pottery vases, dishes and vessels used in cooking and for storing food.

During the ancient times, pottery was made using the potter's wheel, a machine with a horizontal spinning disc on which clay is shaped into various clay objects, though it's origins are still unknown. It was used in Egypt, Persia, and Babylonia in Mesopotamia, and excavations in Egyptian tombs have shown that pottery was made using very advanced methods as early as 3000 BC. The pottery made during this time in ancient Egypt were both for use and of decorative purposes, of which some examples included bottles, jars, and jugs used for carrying and storing water. The Babylonians on the other hand, made clay bricks and tiles with glossy layers of glaze, often decorated in several colours. The Persians further extended this art and made vases and beautifully designed tiles used to decorate the palaces.

The ancient Greeks and Romans too displayed their unique skills at pottery making. The early Greeks were able to make clay objects such as vases, urns and vessels using an interesting mix of contrasting colours. For instance, a red-on-black ware was decorated first by outlining the decoration on the red clay body. Then the background was filled in with a thin glaze of black, leaving the figures in red. They also made little terracotta figures, which were used as ornaments or as toys for children. Pictures of their gods and heroes were sometimes portrayed on these clay objects such as vases. For the ancient Romans, some examples of their pottery included a red earthenware known as Samian ware and a black pottery known as Etruscan ware.

We have heard of China, one of the largest countries in the world with a population of over 1 billion, but do you know that the word 'china' also refers to a type of pottery, Chinese porcelain to be more specific, of which its origins can be traced to the time of the Shang dynasty (1766-1122 BC)? This was one considered to be one of the finest pottery to be ever made during the time of the ancient civilisations. Shang potters used white clay instead of the normal coarse gray clay to make their pottery. This was done with the help of the potter's wheel. After a pottery was made, it was covered with a glossy layer of glaze. The art of making fine Chinese porcelain was improved upon by later dynasties in China and became so popular that merchants from other countries sailed to China to trade for it's "china".

Today, there is a decline in the importance of pottery for useful purposes. We seldom see people today using pottery jugs or containers to carry food or water. Instead, containers made of metal or plastic are used, due to the fact that they are more durable as compared to pottery, which are fragile and break easily. However, people are still making pottery for ornamental purposes, as the intricate designs of the pottery and the fine skills displayed by the potter in it's making serve to be eye-catching a subject of admiration. Chinese porcelain is still as popular as in the past, and a porcelain vase dating back to the Ming dynasty for example, is highly sought after by pottery lovers who would pay millions just to obtain a piece of the fine art that is regarded as one of the greatest cultural achievements during the history of China.