Clay is a versatile medium for art.
Almost every kindergarten student comes home with a roughly made ashtray that was recently fired in a school kiln. Parents smile and give the piece a place of pride in the home. The sculpture becomes part of the family history, long cherished by parents. The history of sculpting in clay extends much farther back than the school system. Creating figures and shapes in clay is one of mankind's earliest art forms that is still celebrated to this day.
Scope
Clay is readily available and handily lends itself to molding. It's been used by almost every civilization on every corner of the Earth. Clay sculptures have been found among the artifacts of many civilizations around the globe. Ancient Native Americans, Chinese, Egyptians, Greeks, Japanese---the list goes on and on. Some of the earliest surviving clay sculptures date back to the Japanese Joman period of 2200 B.C. The earliest forms of these Japanese clay sculptures were figurines believed to be representations of the deities.
Availability
Clay is found naturally on almost every corner of the globe. Technically, this material is a form of soft rock, created by a natural reaction between water and stone. Clay begins to dissolve and soften as more water is added, which makes it a convenient and easy-to-use medium for sculpting. Through fire, the impermanent nature of clay can be changed into pottery to make sculptures last much longer. Because of its simplicity, easy of use and affordability, clay has remarkable longevity as an art form.
Early Clay Sculpture Creation
The first clay sculptures were created around 6000 B.C., when early nomadic cultures began to establish the first civilizations. It's possible that clay sculptures were made even before this, but clay was not fired in kiln-like devices until this time, so many clay sculptures and figurines did not survive the years. The potter's wheel was first used in the Bronze Age, around 3000 B.C. A newer, much faster, version of the wheel appeared in Europe and Asia in 2000 B.C. Different civilizations began to develop their own distinct styles and patterns of clay sculptures. The art form likely began as a means of worship, as many early sculptures depicted deities and natural forms found in nature. Over the years, clay sculptures were employed in more utilitarian, everyday objects, such as cooking pots and drinking vessels.
Native American Pottery
The Native Americans, who are believed to have originally migrated to the country via the Bering Strait in 25,000 B.C., have a rich history of sculpting pottery from clay. Much of the clay pottery Native Americans produced was practical in design. The sculpted objects were used to store water, grain and other consumables. Different Native American tribes developed their own patterns, while some specific craftsmen and women created pots in their own unique style. Even today, Native American pottery is a valuable form of art, highly collectible and featured in many museums around the world.
Present Day Sculpting
Today, artisans and amateurs alike learn the art of making pottery, as clay sculptures are commonly called. Modern-day potters and sculptors use various glazing techniques, or no glaze at all, before firing their creations in kilns, giving their work a distinct look and style. Artists use wood-burning, oil and gas kilns to fire their clay sculptures. This turns the pieces incredibly hard and makes them impervious to water.
