Pot throwing: an investigation into the real-time cognitive and physical processes involved in a craft performance

The ancient pot throwing craft skill involves three elements, maker, material, and technology. It is in the meeting of these three elements that features a complex, dynamic, and constantly changing point of real-time cognitive and physical contact.

The research should be of interest to, novice potters learning the skills involved in a pot throwing performance, practitioners wishing to refine their skills through ergonomic study to optimise their pot throwing performance, and educators wishing to enhance their knowledge to add to their teaching skills.

The aim of this investigation is to provide pot throwing practitioners and educators with a better understanding of aspects involved in a pot throwing process/ performance, to enable a more inclusive approach in training; and to signpost ways of enabling a safer more efficient, ergonomic and time saving acquisition of complex craft skills.

Little academic literature has been written about the pot throwing process, in the context of real-time making and even less on the consideration of pot throwing as a performance. Data was collected, from a purposively- sampled participant population, through the use of verbal protocol, biophysical measures, digital visual observation, and a self-reporting review. Tools from both qualitative and quantitative research methods were combined to form a mixed and integrated research study. The analysis of data from the study shows explicit knowledge that a throwing performance has elements. It is in exeptional and unique tacit responses from individuals that new knowledge can be termed.

• In pre-performance activities.

• Micro reflective moments. during the throwing performance, and,

• Physical stature and muscle bulk affecting the style of throwing and sequence of defined actions e.g. frequency of adding water and wheel rotational speed, grip pattern and posture.

The study considered the concept of expertise and the elements that make an expert. The findings of this study leads onto future research into specific pre-performance preparation based on sports metrics and biomechanical analysis associated with fingertip pressure and haptic feedback.