Introduction

Many maiolica designs are made up of repeating geometric motifs.  Evenly dividing a round item is a required basic skill.  A round piece of pottery can be divided in a number of ways.  Other than "eyeballing it", the simplest way to evenly divide a round piece is to:

1. Turn the ceramic pot upside down and trace the circumference on a piece of paper.
2. Cut out the tracing and fold the tracing into the number of desired sections. 
3. Using the folded paper as a guide, mark the sections on the ceramic piece with a pencil.

Generic Template

Another way to divide a round piece of pottery is to create a generic circular template using some basic drafting tools -- a compass, a protractor, a ruler and a pencil.  A circle is made up of 360°.  Considering the even divisors of 360, it is useful to create a circular template that has lines at 5° increments.  After using the pouncing technique to transfer the generic pattern grid to a glazed piece of pottery, it is possible to freehand a number of geometric designs.

Using a Generic Template

Two of the most common motifs used in maiolica designs, fish scales and the diaper pattern, can be made using the 5° division lines.  Common maiolica motifs can be personalized with variations in the fill pattern or colors.

Many motifs start with the same basic shape or slight variations.  The repeat for each of these motifs is 20°. 

Useful Divisions of a Circle