15 Aug How to Make a Clay Model of a Pin Tray

Today’s homeschool handicraft project is a clay model of a pin tray. This is model #43 from the book, A Manual of Clay-Modelling by Hermione Unwin.

A pin tray from the early 1900s was a small decorative dish or tray used to hold straight pins, sewing pins, hat pins, hair pins, or other small pins. They were typically very small – only a few inches across – often decorative and ornamental, but also practical.

Materials Needed

• The book, A Manual of Clay Modelling by Hermione Unwin (or free online HERE)
• Modeling Clay (the book suggests red terra cotta clay)
• Clay modeling tools (this kit includes many tools, along with a sponge and wire to cut the clay)
• An modelling board with an armature – hopefully you’ve made this with us already
• A bowl of water
• An apron or paint shirt to protect your clothing
• Newspaper, or plastic covering to protect your table

Happy Handicrafts Video: How to Make a Clay Model of a Pin Tray

The Process

The shape of this tray is based on the form of a cockle shell. It is built up away from the armature, as it will not need its’ support.

The process begins by making a ball of clay that is 1.5 inches in diameter. Lay the ball on the board and flatten it to the thickness of 1 inch.

We then divided the circumference into four parts. Three of these equal parts were hollowed out with the use of our thumbs. This left the fourth part for the curl of the shell. At this point, the sides curved up slightly to nearly 1 inch in height. We then placed our thumbs on the outside of the fourth part and made it curl upwards and inwards from each side, the two curves meeting in an angle in the middle of it, but slightly higher than the rest of the rim.

The final step was to divide the rim of the tray into two equal parts and crinkle it evenly on each side of the division, so that the corresponding curves match each other. Smooth it all out with wet fingers. And that completes our clay model of a pin tray!

This is one of the models that you may consider saving, drying, and painting. It’s small size and delicate shape would look very quaint on top of a dresser, collecting pins.

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