Ologies with Alie Ward
Ceramology (POTTERY) with Potted History’s Graham Taylor & Sarah Lord Taylor
10 Sep 2025
Porcelain. Earthenware. China. Archaeology. Stoneware. Anthropology. Amphora. Throwing wheels. We got it all. Master potters, history aficionados and Potted History’s icons Sarah Lord Taylor and Graham Taylor are here for our 8th anniversary episode. We get the dirt on ceramics versus pottery, where clay comes from, if there’s enough in the world, how can you spot clay in the wild, how long have humans being making pots, what were the first ceramics, what is glaze exactly, why did your pots explode, what excavations of stoneware have revealed about our ancient ancestors, the Venus figurines of history, the hidden ingredients that might surprise you, and how to feel about thrift store finds. Also: how to bond with a potter instantly. Visit the Potted History website and follow them on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTubeDonations went to Cancer Research UK and Little LiftsMore episode sources and linksOther episodes you may enjoy: 5th Anniversary Special! Xylology (LUMBER), Experimental Archeology (OLD TOOLS/ATLATLS), Canistrumology (BASKET WEAVING), Museology (MUSEUMS), Indigenous Pedology (SOIL SCIENCE), Geology (ROCKS), Scatology (POOP)400+ Ologies episodes sorted by topicSmologies (short, classroom-safe) episodesSponsors of OlogiesTranscripts and bleeped episodesBecome a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a monthOlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes!Follow Ologies on Instagram and BlueskyFollow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTokEditing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jake ChaffeeManaging Director: Susan HaleScheduling Producer: Noel DilworthTranscripts by Aveline Malek Website by Kelly R. DwyerTheme song by Nick Thorburn
Full Episode
Oh hey, it's yesterday's pants, also known as today's pants. Allie Ward, let's ruin a manicure in the best way possible. It's Ology's eighth year this week, eighth anniversary rather. This is episode 467. It is our anniversary. So I checked on the traditional gift guide for an eighth anniversary and... It's pottery, folks.
Finally, also, you can enjoy our fifth anniversary episode on wood, which we did about reclaimed lumber. Loved it. But ceramology, it comes from the Greek, ceramos, for pottery, which was easy. Not only is this an anniversary episode, but it's also a twofer because we got two guests, and they're both equally the best. It's a parent-child duo of accomplished ceramic artists.
Plus, there is another sibling who helps run the business, and there's Jess in the studio, although they're not on this interview. But many of you are freaking out, freaking out, wigging, just seeing their names in the title. But if you don't know their work, they run the studio Potted History, as well as its educational and very cool YouTube channel.
And for decades, they've been making museum-quality replicas of these ancient ceramics, for institutions and museums and heritage sites and private collectors and TV. And on top of that, they are very pro-accessibility, and they've run workshops on ancient craftsmanship for universities and laypeople alike, and they give advice for research projects.
They are so into the craft and the history of pottery, there was no one else I would have rather sat down with via a video chat from Northumberland, England. Love them. And before we get to it, just a quick thanks to all the potters and the non-potters via patreon.com slash ologies who submitted questions for this episode. Thanks to everyone in Ologies Merch from ologiesmerch.com.
Thank you to the folks who help out the show now going into its ninth year, which is the longest I've ever held a job, by leaving reviews, which help the show so much. I read all of them, including this recent one from Dr. Tess West, who wrote... Smells like sharpened pencils.
Each episode of Ologies has that slightly giddy sensation of your favorite teacher pulling out a fresh transparency sheet for the overhead projector and captivating the imagination of every kid in the class. Also, thank you to Bunny who left the review. Minus some stars because we have swears in the show. Bunny, we made you a whole show. It's called Smologies. S-M-O-L-O-G-I-E-S.
They are linked right in the show notes. They're in their own filth-free... feed of classroom-safe, kid-friendly episodes. They're called Smologies. We made them for you. I hope you enjoy them. No swears. Smologies. Also, thanks to sponsors of the show who make it possible to donate to a cause of Theologist choosing each week. Okay, grab grandpa's old dress shirt, reverse it as a smock.
Let's get into an art project on the difference between ceramics and pottery, where clay comes from, if there's enough in the world, how you can spot clay in the wild, how long have humans been making pots? What were the first ceramics? What is glaze exactly? Why did your pots explode? What's porcelain? When was the wheel invented? Not that wheel, but the other wheel.
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