Description
Intensive Course: Wheel-Thrown Teapots: Throwing, Fitting and Assembly
A Three-Day Intensive Course with Lewis Hayes
County Hall Pottery, London
Dates: 30 October–1 November
Times: 10:00am–5:00pm each day
Price: £350 per person
Duration: Three-day intensive course
Join ceramic artist Lewis Hayes for an intensive three-day course exploring how to throw, assemble and refine a functional ceramic teapot.
The teapot is one of the most technically demanding forms in wheel-thrown ceramics. It brings together several individually made components, including the body, lid, gallery, spout, strainer, handle and foot, all of which must work successfully as part of a balanced and functional whole.
Throughout the course, Lewis will guide participants through each stage of the process, from throwing the main components to accurate measuring, trimming, fitting and assembly. Particular attention will be given to proportion, ergonomics, lid fit, spout placement and pouring function.
This intensive course is designed for experienced throwers who would like to strengthen their technical skills, develop confidence in making complex functional forms and gain a deeper understanding of the engineering behind a successful teapot.
Course Overview
This practical three-day masterclass focuses on the design, construction and refinement of wheel-thrown teapots. Participants will explore a range of body shapes, including globular forms, tapered cylinders and flattened disc forms. Lewis will demonstrate how the shape and thickness of the teapot body can affect its weight, balance, capacity and ability to retain heat.
Participants will learn how to measure accurately using callipers, create fitted lids and galleries, and throw tapered spouts with controlled wall thickness. The course will also cover the placement and attachment of strainers, spouts and pulled handles.
As the work progresses, participants will consider how each component relates to the others. They will refine the height and angle of the spout, assess the balance of the handle and develop a secure, well-fitting lid.
The final day will focus on details, surface and function, including lid knobs, joint refinement, subtle decorative treatments and practical checks for airflow and pouring.
Learning will take place through demonstrations, repeated practice, one-to-one guidance and supported studio time.
All work made during the masterclass will be bisque fired as part of the course fee. Once fired, participants may collect their work to glaze and fire independently or book a separate Glaze Your Work session at County Hall Pottery.
What You Can Expect
Day One: Throwing the Components
Morning: Teapot Bodies
Participants will begin by throwing a selection of teapot body shapes, including globular forms, tapered cylinders and flattened disc forms.
The session will focus on:
- Developing balanced teapot proportions
- Achieving consistent wall thickness
- Considering capacity, weight and heat retention
- Preparing the rim and opening for the lid and gallery
- Measuring accurately with callipers
Afternoon: Spouts, Galleries and Lids
The afternoon will focus on producing the remaining thrown components.
Participants will explore:
- Throwing and tapering teapot spouts
- Choking and refining narrow forms
- Creating galleries for secure lid fitting
- Throwing flat, inset and domed lids
- Matching lids accurately to the teapot body
Day Two: Trimming and Assembly
Morning: Trimming and Fitting
Participants will trim and refine the components made on the first day.
The session will cover:
- Trimming teapot bodies and creating foot rings
- Refining the weight and silhouette of the form
- Precision trimming and fitting of lids
- Assessing spout height, angle and alignment
- Preparing each component for assembly
Afternoon: Strainers, Spouts and Handles
The afternoon will focus on assembling the teapot.
Participants will learn how to:
- Mark and pierce clean strainer holes
- Position and attach the spout
- Refine the spout connection
- Pull and shape ergonomic handles
- Attach handles with consideration of balance and grip
- Support and protect the form during assembly
Day Three: Refinement, Surface and Function
Morning: Detail and Finesse
The final day will begin with refining the assembled teapots.
Participants will explore:
- Creating lid knobs through throwing, pulling or carving
- Refining joins between the body, spout and handle
- Smoothing transitions between components
- Adjusting the relationship between the lid, rim and spout
- Resolving the overall silhouette and balance of the teapot
Afternoon: Surface and Quality Control
The final afternoon will introduce restrained approaches to surface decoration and functional testing.
Participants may explore:
- Sgraffito
- Light faceting
- Slip application
- Carved or textured details
- Checking the lid air hole
- Assessing lid security
- Reviewing the angle and flow of the spout
- Identifying potential causes of dripping
What You Will Learn
- How to throw a range of teapot body shapes
- How to achieve consistent wall thickness and balanced weight
- How to measure accurately using callipers
- How to throw and fit lids and galleries
- How to throw, taper and refine spouts
- How to trim teapot bodies, lids and components
- How to position and attach a spout
- How to create effective built-in strainers
- How to pull and attach balanced, ergonomic handles
- How to refine joins and transitions between components
- How to create and attach lid knobs
- How to apply subtle surface decoration
- How to assess lid fit, airflow, balance and pouring function
What You Will Take Away
- One or more wheel-thrown and assembled teapots
- Practical experience in making a complex functional ceramic form
- A deeper understanding of teapot proportion, balance and ergonomics
- Technical knowledge of lids, galleries, spouts, strainers and handles
- Greater confidence in measuring, fitting and assembling thrown components
- Experience refining teapots for both visual and practical resolution
- The skills to continue designing and making teapots independently
Finished Work, Firing and Collection
All work made during the masterclass will be bisque fired as part of the course fee.
Bisque-fired work will be ready to collect approximately three to four weeks after the masterclass.
Participants may either take their work home to glaze and fire independently or book a separate Glaze Your Work session at County Hall Pottery.
Skill Level
Level: Intermediate to advanced
This masterclass is suitable for participants with established wheel-throwing experience.
Participants should be able to centre clay and throw cylinders independently. Confidence with trimming and handling leather-hard work is also recommended, as the course involves producing multiple components, measuring accurately and assembling complex forms.
This course is not suitable for complete beginners.
What to Bring
Participants should bring:
- A notebook or sketchbook
- A towel
- Any preferred personal pottery tools
- Reference images, sketches or teapot ideas, if desired
All essential studio tools and materials will be provided.
About Lewis Hayes
Lewis Hayes is a ceramic artist, technician and tutor who was born and raised in Stoke-on-Trent, a city with a long history of ceramic production. He began throwing on the wheel at the age of ten and returned to ceramics professionally after working as an actor. Since moving into ceramics full-time in 2022, Lewis has worked across London as a practising ceramic artist, college technician and tutor. His experience spans production throwing, glaze chemistry, handbuilding, firing and the construction of large-scale, multi-section ceramic forms. His teaching focuses on breaking complex pottery processes into clear and achievable stages, helping students develop both technical confidence and a stronger understanding of how clay forms are constructed. Lewis brings an engineering-led approach to wheel throwing, with particular attention to proportion, precision, structure and function.
Key Information
Dates: 30 October–1 November
Times: 10:00am–5:00pm each day
Location: County Hall Pottery, Belvedere Road, London
Level: Intermediate to advanced
Experience Required: Participants should be able to centre clay and throw cylinders independently
Clay: Stoneware
Class Size: Maximum 10 participants
Materials: Clay, use of tools and bisque firing are included
Optional Session: Glaze Your Work sessions are booked separately
Collection: Work will be ready approximately three to four weeks after the course
