How to make a Butter Crock/Butter Bell/French Butter Keeper

[@elizabethringus9738]

Remember to leave room for the water in the bottom. He showed the diagram of how it should work, but didn’t talk about it in the make. The butter will go bad if not sealed by the water… and you should change the water daily.

[@ambero8726]

That top down view is an amazing addition. Great being able to see from that view point, fantastic idea

[@SallyRoperPottery]

Really great video on how to make the crockery and use the gauge - I have a similar one made by Darren Ellis. I make these butter crocks all the time…..A few have commented that you should angle the inner cylinder slightly inwards to prevent the butter from sliding out. It is a valid point for warm/hot days,, trust me, I know because I live in the tropics. MY additional critique is that you should allow more room between the two pieces, they are not meant to be snug. Curving the outer crock a bit will solve this and give it more tabletop appeal.

[@Lopakanui]

Someone was checking out mine last fall to see if I threw them like the Europeans or the Americans. She said I did them like the Europeans. They bring the sides of the bell in a little as it's thrown for the same reason I started doing it. Some people told me they had one but the butter would slide out when the weather got really hot and for that reason I also leave the inside unglazed. I thought you might find this interesting or helpful. Keep up the great work! I enjoy your videos.

[@paiges9362]

I have enjoyed your channel for a while now and was inspired to book a beginners pottery class for a valentines date for my hubby and I and I gotta say…. You make it look EASY!! I was not expecting how much pressure is required to shape the clay. You have a gift! Thank you for the great content, you make beautiful pieces!

[@christinedavenport3321]

Great video! Keeping with the theme of kitchen items, you might be interested in trying a salt pot (sometimes referred to as a salt pig), a sponge holder, garlic pot, spoon rest or even a gravy bowl.

[@pogmofoil]

My friends just asked me to make them one, this video was incredibly helpful! Thanks for showing it from multiple angles.

[@cynthinamurphy5902]

I love the butter bell & can't wait to see the glaze colors you choose

[@karinabean611]

This video is the best one you've made! I love the top down view addition! As a beginner potter, it is super super helpful to see what it looks like for you as you're throwing and not just a side view. Thanks!! Definitely would buy one of these! Would these fit a whole stick? Maybe if you made two different sizes, you could have one for the table and one for the kitchen near the stove.

[@karenburnell8144]

Love this little dish. I've watched this video a number of times to really take in the physical skill and technical detail required to make this. I'm going to have a go once I master throwing a perfectly perpendicular cylinder. Thankyou Jon for making this video and the various filming angles you used to show how you created the butter crock. Much appreciated.

[@melissaanderson9929]

Love this, especially how simple the design is. Would love to see you throw a lamp base and wire it up!

[@theresadoyle6360]

One small helpful hint. You should angle the inside piece slightly. This helps keep the butter in the crock when it is soft, otherwise I’ve found that it ends up sliding out and rests on the bottom of the outside piece. Thanks John, been watching your videos for years - very educational and entertaining.

[@epi8673]

I like the new camera perspective from above.

[@rellatower8650]

Thanks for tips on how to make these. I love the first shirt -- little off centered!!

[@tracymould9708]

This is one of my best sellers that I make. Enjoyed watching your process. I didn't know you could bisque fire them together so this is a great tip 👏

[@FFSS60]

Thanks for the tip about the bottle cap as a trimming spinner. Will definitely take that forward to future trimming projects. What about those videos you were going to do about talking with other potters?

[@prettycountrygirl2]

Excellent work. Loving the close-up views of you creating the items.

[@frankhott179]

Thanks so very much! I have a friend for whom I promised one of these years ago. She will be surprised!

[@Seidenraupe77]

We have something like that too. But our "lid" narrows towards the bottom and is quite a bit smaller than the bowl. We fill the bowl with cold water. So that the butter hangs in the water, so to speak, and is well cooled.

[@amyhoeppner9344]

will you be showing how you glaze and fire these?

[@zoekane4012]

Love the butter crock and the split view while throwing. Looking forward to seeing the glazing video. I hope these show up in your shop. TFS!

[@mariaelenajara163]

Great video! I'm new in pottery and I did one that works but it's a bit too thick, so I'm going for a new one using your video as a guide. Thanks.

[@mipogrow]

Please make many of these. I'd really like to have one. You sell out pretty quickly. Which is great for you and I'm happy that it happens, but it can make it difficult to purchase.

[@janlewis9099]

Brilliant!!! Can't wait to try this. Have you ever made one piece salt a pepper shaker. Can't really explain I know it is basically a dome with a hole in the bottom and the salt is held in a channel inside????

[@hicksoi]

Brilliant- thank u. Is there space for the water to sit? Can’t wait to try throwing one now

[@renaebettenhausen3611]

Rainbow marbled butter crocks please. Also waves would be awesome.. Like ocean blue, in tiny chunks on the bottom, and seafoam white in the middle, and a red/pink / yellow on the top.

[@allenfitz1]

Yep going to class today and try one. Thought about making one but haven't had the nudge. Thanks

[@embee7434]

This video has serious throw back energy to the early days. Great video. Great channel. Great pieces. Thank you for sharing. The music selection in this one brought at the feel-good relaxation. Nice.

[@chanaheszter168]

Really always a pleasures to see you work, and love this traditional form.

[@TheServiceCenterWCM]

Hi Jon - just catching up on videos and wanted to say that the production quality and instruction continue to be amazing. I had a friend ask if I could make some butter crocks (which I'd never done before). As always, you make the process super simple!

[@sonyacollins431]

This is a fantastic idea!! I would love to have 1 or 2 of these butter holder ❤

[@timfowler4642]

Love the split screen views

[@WhoaNelie]

Love making the french butter dish- what’s the best way to glaze inside and fire together too and bottom? Thx

[@erinwithryder]

Thank you for the video! Butter keeper is also one of my future projects. Could you make citrus juicer next time? ♥️

[@gingerplumcat]

Thank you! Gonna work on this at the studio wish me luck!

[@grainofsalt9015]

I think a flatened one finger loop or nub or something, for a handle.

[@mikej959]

I am going to have to throw one of these for myself. Thanks for the great video. I'd like to see you make a Tagine in a future video.

[@subrosa7mm]

I bought one of these from Amazon a month ago!! I told my husband is you have any available I’m gonna have to get one. I love my butter bell!!

[@Javaman92]

The wheel is like magic. It's almost cheating. lol I wonder if I could make this totally primitive. I know I won't spend the money on pottery, but I wanna play with it!

[@debbielumpkins3442]

I have wanted one of those for a long time. Be sure to let us know when they are available. Nice tutorial too.

[@jtcpottery]

Great explanation and video! What are the dimensions?

[@knightclan4]

I love soft butter!! Thanks for sharing

[@jennyleemiller6546]

Great tutorial! I think I've missed them!

[@colleenwilkins260]

Can't wait till they are for sale. Would love one for my home.

[@tobywollin8978]

Jon - a) thanks so much for the video. b) Do you dry the crock with the insert INSIDE the cylinder? Or, separately?

[@Handmadebygas]

Hey jon, I wanted to add that I believe you add vodka instead of water to keep from spoiling I believe .

[@andrewurbanowski1666]

I have french butter bell its great But I need a larger butter bell preferably 472 ml. If you make them I will gladly purchase one

[@ritalayman9396]

Ooooo. What glaze is that? Please 🙏🏻.

[@sylviefeys744]

That's great. I need to try this some day.

[@kerilowe3500]

Great video so thank you. I’m off to have a go.

[@joellenross-hauer7456]

Love the bottle cap idea!

[@elizabethmeerendonk7555]

Love the butter keeper nut What is the arm I noted you used And how does it attach to wheel.Can I purchase one?

[@roadmap5351]

Jon, do you dry them together?

[@amandadoughty5228]

Love the glaze

[@shanethepotter]

I make lots of these but I throw a knob on the top. I line the flattop also.

[@jackiemorrison2661]

Gotta try this!!

[@BrokenArrowPottery]

Those are beautiful Jon!

[@isaiahkoranda9533]

I love the pots! And I love the throwing gauge! Where did you get that guy?!

[@emilyelliott602]

OMG yes! I have been waiting for a video about how to make these!

[@rosespiker4087]

Oh yeah, gotta get one!!!

[@ryanrehm224]

hey Jon! love all your videos. I finally had an opportunity to get down to Denver and get continentals B clay, LOVE IT! Easy to work with, stable even for some taller pieces (I got the no grog). Next time im in Denver, I will def be buying more! I'll have to make my own butter crock now :-D. Didn't even think of making one. Thanks!

[@MsWill]

What is the material of the pottery bat?

[@angireid4146]

on your example piece, what glaze combination is that? Thanks!

[@DavidHebert62]

They are a popular item for us

[@robinmarie5180]

Can you put a handle on the top for people with arthritis?

[@annettegreer2425]

Thanks! Great video.

[@THEWIELDBOYS8700]

Better Bells!! 👍🦋

[@gardeninginthedesert]

I love these! Did you ever make the cones for drip coffee? I'd love to see how they're made.

[@Tischlerimkopf]

Look for 'old forge Creations V-60 pour over' there you will find what you Crave :)

[@CeeJayKay]

Can you tell us the link for how to glaze the Butter Bell? I haven't found it yet... : (

[@LisabettaMedaglia]

I sometimes make my own butter (honey orange butter! or even garlic and herb butter). I wonder how these little guys would look like in the coloured clay with a nice clear glaze on them? :)

[@kennethdante]

Hi Jon You are using Continental buff? Is that a cone 6 no grog? I want to try some new clays. I keep running into stiff bags w the bmix laguna/axner. Its probbaly my local supplier holding stock i'm not sure.... I just never know what I'm going to get next from one bag to the next. I'm used to bmix5 (wc 401) it's super smooth but very inconsistent bags. Can you recommend something I may like similar? Thanks Bud!

[@VictoriaFlyinVFarms]

Would you mind giving out the measurements for the whole piece, and the width of the openings in inches?? I’m a ceramics student trying to make some for my final project of the year

[@mavisdavisify]

You can pick any size you want. There isn’t a standard size. The inner liner pot just has to easily fit inside the outer pot in width and depth.

[@aburk8417]

Sweet! Gotta make one!!!

[@ninnush]

Hi, please how do you dry these? With the lid in or out? I worry when drying with the lid in, the outside vessel will dry faster and shrink while the lid stays leather hard and not dry evenly. But then, when drying separately the pieces can warp and not fit? Do u please have any advice on this?

[@JohnMartens]

Future project idea: goblets!

[@andreak7001]

I'm curious how you would go about adding a knob to the lid?

[@Lopakanui]

I hope John doesn't mind me chiming in on this. The only knob I've put on mine was one that also functioned as a pedestal so when it's being used during a meal you can set it down without having to put it back in the bottom piece. I like John's method also because you don't need to put it back in the bottom piece. This way you don't have everyone dripping water all over the place every time they use the butter. On my latest design I trim a foot on the top of the lid which is also glazed and fired like John does it.

[@PaulineSimpson-b9r]

What weight of clay do you use for each piece?

[@literalcupoftea6299]

Are you going to sell them at the mocha monkey locations?

[@nancyltate2943]

Awesome more inspiration thanks

[@k.ishiwata7564]

Beautiful 😍

[@lizmeerendonk]

What is the height and width of butter dish?

[@mindygeist7157]

Thanks so much!

[@CrabOnTheMoon]

Very useful. Thank you!)

[@nancybender390]

Love it!

[@eiyumats6218]

Nice man!

[@grammiegilliam4889]

Very helpful tips. Like your two views in this video.

[@janineclow5963]

So cool

[@linr1294]

I started throwing these when my dad broke mom’s butter dish and I didn’t want to hand build a replacement…. 😄

[@eliaskuhn5651]

Bom dia , obrigado por compartilhar seu trabalho, um abraço aqui do Brasil

[@theabristlebroom4378]

Yeassssssssss! Thanks!

[@YotamGuttman]

I'm usually a fond of angular pottery. but isnt it impractical to have the interior bit shaped as a cylinder? I think it's called butter bell for a reason. you don't want butter lodging in the corners because then it'd get rancid. you want this type of vessel to be absolutely easy to keep prestinely clean and ultimately have no corners.

[@kandaceanneservello7323]

Nice!

[@שירהשמואל-פ5ק]

Can you create videos that simply explain how to create bowls or cups?

[@321ReadysSetG0]

Look at his list of videos - he's got plenty

[@raymondbukaty3108]

Jon I know this is a bit off subject but who makes the Buttercream glaze that you are always using?

[@____Ann____]

I think he only uses Mayco. Isn't it the Winterwood glaze?

[@benpatterson4452]

Where did you get the throwing gauge?

[@jonathangeorge9037]

Looks just like the one Florian Gadsby uses!

[@katesterner]

I've only heard them called Butter Keepers, but I confess I like Butter Bell better. ... tee hee

[@Smallathe]

Very cool. I love your diy videos! Idea: candy jar with a matching glass cover? What about cool arrowheads - for fun and display, not use - go wild with the colors... :)

[@allenflud]

Not bad, but coulda' been butter.....

[@bonnililienthal8090]

Life goals!! You are late to the party - Promo-SM!!

[@1976LFonseca]

I’m going to make one. Thanks for the inspiration!