What Is a Pinch Pot?
A pinch pot is the oldest and simplest way to make a bowl or cup from clay. All you do is start with a ball and PINCH it into shape with your fingers! People have been making pinch pots for over 10,000 years.
The technique is exactly what it sounds like: you use your thumb and fingers to pinch the clay, turning the ball into a hollow bowl shape, one pinch at a time.
Pinch pots can become:
Small bowls for holding jewelry or keys
Cups for holding pencils
Candle holders
Small plant pots
Animal shapes (a pinch pot with legs and a head becomes a turtle or hedgehog!)
The beauty of pinch pots is that every single one is different. Because you shape them by hand, no two are exactly alike. Each one has the unique marks of your fingers, making it truly one of a kind.