Pottery holding device and method

A device for attachment to a wheelhead of a pottery wheel for securely holding a workpiece during rotation of the wheelhead and device, the device comprising:

• a first means for engaging the top surface of the wheelhead and for accepting the workpiece on a top surface thereof, wherein the first means is made of a single piece the first means including an axis of rotation and at least four substantially radially-extending slots disposed about the axis of rotation and extending through the first means;
• and
• at least four holding members configured to abut at least four separate and distinct points of the workpiece at a periphery of the workpiece positioned on the first means, each holding member being coupled to a corresponding slot of the at least four substantially radially-extending slots and including a sliding member proximate the top surface of the wheelhead, a stop member proximate the top surface of the first means, and a locking member coupled to the stop member and the sliding member,
• wherein the holding members are selectively independently movable with respect to one another and the first means and are selectively lockable to the first means at differing positions along the at least four slots, with respect to the first means to securely hold the workpiece to substantially maintain a predetermined position and orientation of the workpiece during rotation of the wheelhead and device, and
• wherein rotation of each locking member in a first direction draws the locking member and a corresponding sliding member toward one another to such a degree that the sliding member exerts a force against a bottom surface of the first means and the stop member exerts a force against the top surface of the first means to selectively lock each holding member.