h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

h2g2 is a wonderful place, because I have a potting query and I know just who to ask.

So my son got to throw a pot today and take it home, but without it being fired. As far as I know they just used ordinary clay for a wheel. It's a deep reddish brown colour.

Will it eventually dry out? Should I put it in the oven? Am I overthinking it?

Yes it will dry out but it will be very fragile
it should take a day or two (possibly a week) in a dry place
if you want it to dry faster you could put it in the oven on a low heat
too high and you risk causing cracks

if there is a potter near you they might fire the pot if you ask nicely (most of us are friendly)

otherwise green-ware (unfired pots) are very very fragile so I'd put it somewhere easily seen (so you can enjoy looking at it) but hard to touch

perhaps they would fire it in the place he threw the pot? I don't know.
the clay you describe red/brown is terracotta and fires fairly low for pots 1000*c but sadly this is high above the range of a conventional oven

Thank you!

No chance of getting it fired really - it was just a bit of fun in a park. But am letting it dry out to be proudly displayed with the best china for ever more.

It was a lot of fun. Himself is already talking about next time... Future potter in the making.

Kids love an excuse to play with mud.

so do some of the adults, when going right it can be quite therapeutic
otherwise its very frustrating