Making Ceramic Buckets and Vessels
Gather Clay
Find clay near water and dig it up by hand or with a shovel. You need clay to shape all ceramic items.
Shape with the Clay Tool
Craft a Clay Tool. Use it on clay to form unfired Ceramic Buckets, Ceramic Small Vessels, and Ceramic Large Vessels. The Clay Tool is required for shaping — you cannot make these items without it.
Fire the Ceramic
Place your unfired ceramic items in a furnace, campfire, or smoker to fire them. Firing turns them into usable Ceramic Buckets and Ceramic Vessels. A campfire works if you do not have a furnace yet.
Uses
A Ceramic Bucket holds liquids like water and lava, similar to a metal bucket but available earlier. Ceramic Small Vessels and Ceramic Large Vessels store items. The Large Vessel holds more than the Small Vessel.
Upgrade Path
Once you have iron, you can craft a standard metal bucket, but ceramic remains useful for bulk storage. Keep a Ceramic Large Vessel at your base for overflow items. If a vessel breaks, you can shape and fire a replacement with more clay and your Clay Tool.