Designed and Hand Crafted in Cornwall under the guidance of Crown Works Potteries Director Giulietta Hextall, we are incredibly excited to launch her line of beautiful Onggi Wheels.
These wheels are a tribute to the ancient craftsmanship of Korean pottery. Built using pine, the wheel adheres as closely as possible to traditional Korean designs, featuring the classic wide, low-profile wooden drum structure essential for building large-scale vessels. Giulietta was in discussion and took advice from Hee Gun Kim an 8th-generation Korean potter preserving traditional Onggi techniques to develop this wheel.
By utilising this silent, foot-powered mechanism, makers can experience the true rhythm and responsiveness required for traditional Onggi techniques, from the rhythmic "breathing" of the clay to the powerful, frictionless momentum needed for high-capacity throwing. We are proud to bring this rare piece of equipment to our community, bridging the heritage of Korea with the craft traditions of Cornwall and London.
We are pleased to invite you to come to Crown Works to see and try the wheel now in the studio and or enquire with any questions you may have.
Please also see our Onggi tools we have for sale and pre-order, which have been made for us especially by some of the most respected and knowledgeable craftsman in Korea.
We have one wheel in stock and ready for immediate purchase.
All other orders for wheels will be made in batches that take 6 to 8 weeks to be completed depending on the number being made. Please enquire about shipping costs as this will have to be established for each delivery. We will be open to shipping to Europe but will have to establish a cost according to each location.
Wheel Measurements:
51w x 44h cm
We currently have two sets of remaining Onggi tools in the studio, which have been used twice for the two workshops we ran earlier in the year.
We are not ordering any new tools from Korea until we have new workshop dates scheduled.
We therefore are offering these two sets at a reduced price. The wooden tools will come pre-soaked so darker than the images shown below, the cloth (Mulgajuk) has also been used but washed. Please only order if you are happy to have these items provided as detailed.
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We are incredibly excited to announce we are now taking orders for complete sets of beautiful Onggi tools, handmade by highly regarded craftsman in Korea specifically for Crown Works Pottery.
1) Bangmangi - A wooden mallet used to pound and flatten the base and lower sections of the large onggi urns.
2) Surae - A wooden Paddle with carved patterns to endow the clay with a specific texture
3) Dogae - Rounded Anvil
Paddling Technique: In traditional onggi making, a potter uses a flat wooden paddle (surae) on the exterior of a rotating clay vessel while simultaneously pressing the dogae against the interior wall.
Shaping and Compressing: The rhythmic impact between the two tools thins, raises, and compresses the clay, allowing for large, structurally sound forms to be built.
Texture: The carved grid pattern endows the clay with a specific texture, which some sources indicate helps with consistency or adhesion during the building process.
4) Mitgasae - A specialized, flat wooden knife used for a crucial part of the process where the base of the large onggi urns is shaped and tidied.
5,6,7) Geungae - Metal ribs and wooden rib, used to trim or smooth the outer surface of the urn.
8) Mulgajuk - Like a Chamois - a Smoothing Cloth for curving and sorting the rims of pots
These tools can be preordered and are made in batches. Please enquire about when our next batch will be shipped.
Please also see our Onggi Wheel which is now available for preorder and also our Four Day Onggi course taking place in February.
Tool Care and Upkeep:
All the wooden tools are made of Pine. Upon receiving your tools, it is advised that you submerse all the wooden tools weighing them down in the water until they are no longer buoyant, they are best used when waterlogged and this is how these pine tools are taditionally treated. Once soaked the tools should in an ideal world stay wet and not be allowed to dry out, thereby avoiding any cracking of the wood. If frequently allowed to dry out the risk of cracks increases. It is possible to use the tools without soaking at all, but it is not the traditional practice. Please do not soak the metal tools.