A pottery type represents one or more vessels that share certain properties. The properties to be considered should be decided for each new body of material individually, rather than relying on shape to provide the sole criterion, as in the past. The way in which properties such as fabric, decoration, and method of manufacture combine with shape is illustrated to show how a hierarchy of attributes can be set up, as well as ways by which shape itself is modified by technical processes of shaping and finishing the vessel. These methods are used to establish natural groups within the material. Finally, it is suggested that these technical processes should be incorporated into the profile drawing of the pottery vessel.