The tools are simple: a fettling knife, a loop tool, a damp sponge, fine sanding pads, and sometimes a compressed air line for dust. The worker scrapes along the seam with the knife at a low angle, follows with the sponge to blend the scar into the surface, then runs a fingertip over the spot with eyes closed to check it. Handles get attached with slip and scored joints, and the join is smoothed so no line shows after firing.
A bisque-fired piece gets a different treatment. Sanding pads knock down any roughness, kiln grit is wiped off the foot, and pinholes are inspected under a lamp. Our head-mounted cameras sit close enough to catch the knife angle and the sponge stroke. Fixed cameras behind and above the bench cover the posture, the rotation of the piece in the hands, and the stack of finished ware moving to the drying shelf.
Researchers receive episodes split per piece, with steps labeled in plain language: seam removal, sponge pass, foot trimming, handle attachment, inspection. Pieces rejected for cracks, gouges, or visible seams carry failure tags, and pieces that passed inspection carry success tags. We can add hand, tool, and piece tracking on request, and we deliver in your schema to your own storage.
All of it is collected in real workshops with paid, consented workers and is cleared for commercial model training. A sample is a business day away if you ask for one.