Ceramic Vocabulary 1/3

Question 1

Bisque Ware

Answer 1

Clay objects that have been fired for the first time and without any glaze applied to them.

Question 2

Bone Dry

Answer 2

Clay that is completely dried but not yet fired

Question 3

Ceramic

Answer 3

Having to do with clay or glass or the making of objects from clay or glass.

Question 4

Coil Method

Answer 4

One of the oldest ways of forming pottery. Long strnads of clay which are laid on top of each other and joined through blending coil to coil. Coil pieces can be almost any shape and any size.

Question 5

Fettling Knife

Answer 5

Is a special knife-like tool with a fairly flexible blade for cutting into moist and leather-hard clay.

Question 6

Glaze Ware

Answer 6

Bisque ware that has been glazed then fired.

Question 7

Greenware

Answer 7

A term used to describe unfired clay objects in general.

Question 8

Loop Tool

Answer 8

A special tool with a wooden handle and a wire loop at one or both ends, used for carving and hollowing out clay forms.

Question 9

Score

Answer 9

To draw or make lines into clay.

Question 10

Slab

Answer 10

A flattened out piece of clay; you may use a rolling pin or slab roller to achieve a slab of clay. Clay slabs are cut to shape and joined together using scoring and wet clay called slip. Slaps can be draped over or into forms, rolled around cylinders or built-up into geometric forms. Large forms are difficult becuase of stresses on the seams and because the slab natually sags. Some potters get around this by working fibers into the clay body. The fibers burn out during the firing, leaving a network of tiny holes.

Question 11

Slip

Answer 11

Clay that has been watered down; acts as glue in slip/score technique. Slip a fine, liquid form of clay applied to the surface of a vessel prior to firing. Slip fills in pores and gives uniform color.

Question 12

Slip/Score Technique

Answer 12

Method used in hand building to connect two pieces of clay together.

Question 13

Sprigging-On

Answer 13

A term used to describe the technique of adding small clay forms as decoration on the surface of pottery forms; also called applied decoration.

Question 14

Stoneware

Answer 14

High-fire clay. Stoneware is waterproof even without glaze; the resulting ware is sturdier than earthenware.

Question 15

Wedging

Answer 15

Is the process of kneading clay so as to remove air pockets and create uniform consistency of clay.