The history of pottery and clay making is one of the oldest forms of human craftsmanship, dating back over 20,000 years to prehistoric times. Early humans discovered that natural clay could be shaped and hardened by drying or firing, creating durable containers for storing food, water, and other essentials. Pottery first appeared in regions such as East Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, evolving alongside the development of agriculture and settled communities. Ancient civilizations, including the Egyptians, Greeks, Chinese, and Native Americans, refined pottery techniques, introducing wheel-thrown vessels, glazing, and intricate decorative patterns that reflected cultural and religious significance. Clay making involved sourcing suitable earth, kneading it to remove impurities, and shaping it into functional or artistic forms. Firing techniques ranged from open fires to sophisticated kilns, which allowed for stronger, waterproof ceramics. Over time, pottery evolved from purely utilitarian objects to highly artistic expressions, with styles and techniques passed down through generations. Today, pottery continues as both a practical craft and an art form, connecting modern makers with a rich legacy of human ingenuity and creativity.
All of the book titles that are included in this DVD are listed as follows:
How to Make Pottery (1904) - 230 Pages
Pottery; How It Is Made, Its Shape and Decoration; Practical instructions for Painting on Porcelain and all Kinds of Pottery with Vitrifiable and Common Oil Colors, with A Full Bibliography of Standard Works Upon the Ceramic Art (1878) - 182 Pages
Anasazi Painted Pottery in Field Museum of Natural History (1940) - 296 Pages
Tin Enameled Pottery (1906) - 83 Pages
A Pottery Primer (1911) - 194 Pages
The Color Blue in Pottery and Porcelain (1902) - 36 Pages
Ancient Pottery of the Mississippi Valley (1886) - 87 Pages
Handbook of Pottery Types of Nayarit, Mexico (1959) - 48 Pages
Pottery of the Ancient Pueblos (1886) - 182 Pages
The Little Pottery Objects of Lake Chapala, Mexico (1897) - 32 Pages
A Handbook to the Practice of Pottery Painting (1879) - 90 Pages
A Study of North Appalachian Indian Pottery (1914) - 180 Pages
Peruvian Art as Shown on Textiles and Pottery (1919) - 36 Pages
A Treatise on Ceramic Industries; A Complete Manual for Pottery, Tile, and Brick Manufacturers (1911) - 518 Pages
Dutch Pottery and Porcelain (1913) - 278 Pages
Certain Aboriginal Pottery from Southern California (1919) - 98 Pages
Japanese Pottery, Being a Native Report. With an Introduction and Catalogue (1880) - 136 Pages
Keramic Art of Japan (1881) - 526 Pages
Pottery of the Near East (1909) - 214 Pages
Pottery from the Aleutian Islands (1945) - 22 Pages
Description of Chinese Pottery and Porcelain; Being a Translation of the T'ao Shuo (1910) - 268 Pages
French Pottery and Porcelain (1906) - 342 Pages
Indus Valley Painted Pottery (1941) - 127 Pages
The Art of Old English Potter (1886) - 312 Pages
Chinese Pottery in the Philippines (1912) - 102 Pages
Early American Folk Pottery (1918) - 218 Pages
The Chemistry of Pottery (1895) - 224 Pages
China and Pottery Marks (1920) - 50 Pages
Pottery (1877) - 248 Pages
A Guide to the Knowledge of Pottery, Porcelain, and Other Objects of Vertu (1857) - 658 Pages
Pottery, for Artists, Craftsmen & Teachers (1914) - 224 Pages
The Potter's Craft, A Practical Guide for the Studio and Workshop (1922) - 232 Pages
Clay Glazes and Enamels, with A Supplement on Crazing, its Cause and Prevention (1896) - 146 Pages
Notes on the Manufacture of Earthenware (1917) - 400 Pages
Clays: Their Occurrence, Properties, and Uses, with Special Reference to Those of the United States (1906) - 534 Pages
The Use of Lead Compounds in Pottery from the Potters' Point of View (1899) - 102 Pages
Chats on Old Earthenware (1909) - 506 Pages
The Useful Properties of Clays (1904) - 20 Pages
Connecticut Charcoal Kiln (1948) - 44 Pages
Concrete Pottery and Garden Furniture (1910) - 228 Pages