Why Egg Cups Are Great Pottery Projects
Egg cups are small, fast, and forgiving. You can throw one in three minutes using a few ounces of clay. The form is simple — a cup on a pedestal — but getting the proportions right requires the same centering, pulling, and shaping skills used for any thrown piece. Because they use so little clay and fire quickly, egg cups are ideal for experimenting with new glazes and practicing techniques.
They are also enormously popular gifts. A set of four egg cups in a gift box is a thoughtful, practical present that people actually use. Personalized egg cups — with names, initials, or small decorative motifs — are especially prized.
Egg Cup Styles
Classic Pedestal Egg Cup
The traditional egg cup has a bowl at the top to hold the egg and a pedestal stem below that lifts it to a comfortable eating height. Throw the bowl and stem as one piece — start with a small cylinder, keep the bottom narrow as the stem, and flare the top into a cup shape. The bowl should be about two inches in diameter and one and a half inches deep.
Double-Ended Egg Cup
A versatile design with a small cup on one end for standard eggs and a larger cup on the other end for jumbo eggs. Throw as a single piece, shaping both ends before cutting the piece free. The middle section serves as a handle for flipping. This design is practical, distinctive, and a fun throwing challenge.
Flat Egg Plate
A small plate with a central depression to hold the egg. Simpler than a pedestal cup and easier to store in a kitchen cabinet. Throw a small plate about three inches in diameter with a gentle bowl shape in the center. The rim provides space for toast soldiers or salt.
Throwing and Trimming Tips
Working Small
Use two to three ounces of clay per egg cup. Center with your fingertips rather than your palms — less clay means less force needed. Open the center with a single finger. Pull walls slowly and gently — thin walls on small forms are fragile when wet. Leave the base slightly thicker than you think necessary; you can trim away excess when leather-hard.
Getting the Fit Right
A standard large egg is about one and three-quarter inches in diameter at its widest point. The cup should cradle the egg with the top third exposed for cracking. Test the fit with an actual egg once the piece is leather-hard.
Learn from Stephen Jepson
Stephen's pottery video lessons teach the wheel-throwing fundamentals that make small projects like egg cups successful. His instruction on centering, pulling, and trimming translates directly to these miniature forms. One-time purchase, lifetime access to all lessons.