![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GYiDhZxR-jdQ7hfztIq3dol5J7sJj2XJEgXdOGyHqW8mW-y496EUEAU8B904zUU7XuccH3Xac5k6Ba0JwlI4PqyAy86peeh39kd5la_8NNufYPsc3Tzi7Kizj6iNy0UCYEntKs5eAdl0/s400/Finished+Butter+dish.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QRvO2c1SCDLw1gxw_ab0K7n5bXd8ftNdqrHZ1r_i31dCx7kEneskkscAlHD0hyphenhyphenZ_rMJlK12UYPxTeXQ6FB-CsNJYHcEv5y1qgNnXBIZd8XLKotWJil3dawczuFajMDOzug3p618dOWd8/s400/Bdish1.jpg)
I start with a pound and a half of clay, and throw a thick plate, about 6 inches in diameter. It's best to have a well-defined rim, as the rim will be softened a bit by the stretching in later steps.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7bk7b7Dvz1UJ_Z81HWVsGRClDj4dwLWH3v_6h33-Vztcha7Wou1UsIHcUD6vdTjBThLpG1miBtIVyRnUqQOlU00gpTQ2faBDneQhCIhE8VFXPKmlo6Eqls2sLV2UXXneQxfpROZOWTp1x/s400/BDishTopRound.jpg)
Then, using about a one-pound ball of clay, I throw a bottomless cylinder also about six inches in diameter, and about 2 1/2 to 3 inches tall.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmMwp_3wVPreTOlfryoe3mEBkkFCmIOYGsyFlrK9cP0ccxqJj688JySfwMDJLi5oelGCNJDyN38gkgwza9xm5wyi4L8rxm5KXQyBKNQgmD3ZBXKKiURxdVjvdq5CFxJLqa-eViJEQKu77/s400/OvalTop.jpg)
When removing the cylinder from the wheel, I gently press it into an oval shape.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEZQ_OL88oQAUR9nup8SU-WyMKP3VJjYHtWbrc-yu9DYkwk5tCNZuWDXeFDewqFZChlQs3vFMj-IBWeYJnJBFzRlHh61lyFQMrlEf7iM8MdfOeIy4-wA-CBMOkD-EWFC9fYds7z9loJac/s200/Stretching1.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqaNxjgOQND4Q4I8MiqHEaEFKKIvlqbGX0NoQvIMAs4S9D-s9Y4H2rw7SdkaIJmvHEVvaqPetI_O81qKkpqVhJvhaTXO-6rYHywEqbSTuOQMgZTBSkpQRG0c_nyapwNdlQlNZmpgcWlTjz/s200/Stretching2.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNVUU-mxVi64SecfTznIsQW_iSMdz91V2r_Q277ctRJhKEcmJhgBniFs07E96NZ3eV_mvY7mJC-Q7yjyA4YqKHnonOTy5GviMT7AIg5zq7R3XZnBnjddRsc-mUp5ufeRoxbEI3M6S1DTK/s200/Stretching3.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtaDKfKlozL3Clj0b2CPdxIGy6JKmhItBJ6qRqXm69pZmvFbm9bzZroNIWaa_l_xbmnLfDL6iSAuPpWTls-EWUkHgoxpnXswEnIZ3JG7yaq7kKlaO8kPyw-O6LWEQ5FVnL9zvKOSU5Qs44/s200/StretchedBottom.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5U9Oit-BReqXD6cAUIGZymfnt7udnsINyWn7doirHpklfzLTmZeKioZTmvDmWw4WkdeaMPggWbGLcM1Z26L9navLvosxS_Wpvn3ncFERwJW_oCoNYc8lAMr0ts7iM_4i8dKR5zSV9hEmB/s200/BDishTPaper.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5fvBHzzJD50eNyxfuhrZqPVDuMB0-ts1goxNZKTGPS_U8-moNCvJsRSv1eD65bIrfLsR3tfKWhIiUVJh104fwiuT1UYE4Fbpjh1qQVC7MrBHQse6K8MLCf7059SrYmbArSDxDz3kUN5a/s200/OvalWKnife.jpg)
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPB8I-V4knOLtR0UfUCNjv6x1GDmtr-YdgA0ZaZJMOMSwVO9SoiJtYSyZGJYUT_nHMpzWIgzJobcOhhO-fpBV8O1Gf9C7CE2PH1Cu-tfHfSHYInY6gvDPieLquDW5Ft4b7xm4Q78iOL0hL/s200/BDishSlurry.jpg)
I then peel up the thick plate and gently slap it down on the table surface, alternating sides until it is oval shaped. Next, i place toilet paper on the oval plate, and place the oval cylinder on top of it, stretching if necessary.
To make the "roof" of the butter dish, I roll out a slab and cut it into an oval a little larger than the cylinder. After letting this breathe for ten or fifteen minutes (handbuilding is all about timing!) I place it on top of the partially constructed butter dish, and stretch it downwards into the cylinder. I let it rest until early leatherhard in this postion, and then remove it, scratch & slurry the top of the cylinder, and flip it over so it creates a domed top. I trim off the excess and then, using a paddle and a gummy rib (the really bendy red ones are the best), I smooth out the seam. All it needs is something to grip, and we're done!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7nnTD7-G0wRPT7OpyoTBVJ5E-5yq3CFaCcpxXklkUXSx-HxSuexqu0EuB9shHG3gjsgxJ2G0oS-oooo2BVOKhNHei0qYIBbfdMMETNZVTfM-zvgHiDOIcUodne0aVydZca5RUx8FKB0E/s200/KnifeLid.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7R_jYj1f2ub3g6oxTP2sGRm2IW2b69-M58BkzKzfKJ7KKPvPNjv8op-t2w5ATmaxu3k5Vuiel3yUKcfRTM1raLq1EW9uzH54cWUOLmDc5Z0cmnSv6mYou2rwvIODSKfhHhQ9WCc2e_oBs/s200/CuttingLid.jpg)
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