During France's Heritage weekend (Les Journées du Patrimoine), Dominique Garet gave a demonstration of throwing the old way, the method used by La Borne potters of the 19th century.

In former times, the wheel would be sunk below floor level, next to a window for light. It was powered by pushing the bars of the wheel with a long strong stick. The potter sat down to throw small pots but large jars and crocks, some as tall as a metre high, were thrown standing up.

I am sure production potters, if they still used this method, would spend a great deal of time with an osteopath!

click on the pics