What characterizes wheel-thrown pottery?

Wheel-thrown pottery is characterized by being created using a potter's wheel, a technology that allows potters to shape and form clay into various objects through rotational force. The potter places a ball of clay on the center of the wheel and, as it spins, uses tools and hands to shape the clay into desired forms. This technique permits the creation of symmetrical and uniform pieces, which can be difficult to achieve with solely hand-building methods.

The potter's wheel enhances control over the shaping process and enables the creation of various forms, from bowls to vases, with greater precision compared to other methods. While wheel-thrown pieces can indeed be hand-painted later, it is not a defining characteristic of this technique. Additionally, wheel-thrown pottery does not rely on molds, as each piece is shaped individually by the potter's skill and techniques. This distinction highlights the unique aspects of the wheel-throwing process in pottery making.