Which technique is fundamental to making pottery by hand?

The pinch pot technique is fundamental to making pottery by hand because it is one of the most basic and accessible methods for shaping clay. This technique involves using the fingers to pinch and press a small ball of clay into a pot shape, allowing for direct interaction and manipulation of the material. It emphasizes personal expression and creativity, enabling artists to explore form and texture without the need for complex tools or equipment.

The pinch pot method is especially valuable for beginners, as it teaches the fundamental principles of clay handling, such as controlling the thickness of the walls and understanding the drying process. This foundational skill can be built upon as one progresses to more advanced techniques.

While other methods like slip casting and wheel-throwing are important in pottery-making, they involve different skills and tools. Slip casting requires molds, and wheel-throwing demands a potter's wheel for shaping the clay. The firing process is essential for creating durable pottery but occurs after the shaping techniques, making it secondary to the actual hand-building methods like pinch pots. Therefore, the pinch pot technique is truly fundamental in the context of hand-made pottery.