Ceramic Vocabulary Flashcards
Ceramic
Having to do with with clay or the making of objects from clay or glass
Slip
Clay that has been watered down:acts as glue in slip/score technique.slip a fine,liquid form clay applied to the surfaceof a vessel prior to firing.Slip fills in pores and gives uniform color.
Score
To draw and makes line in clay.
Wedging
Is the process of kneading the clay so as to remove air pockets and create uniform consistency.
Coil method
One of the oldest way of forming pottery.Long strands of clay which are laid on tp of each other and joined blending coil to coil.Coil pieces can be almost any shape and any size.
Stoneware
High-fired clay.Stoneware is water proof even without glaze; the resulting ware is sturdier than eartenware.
slip and score techinique
method used in hand building to connect two pieces of clay together.
Slab
A flatten out piece of clay;you may use a rolling pin or slab roller to achieve a slab of clay.Clay slabs are cut to sape and joined together using scoring and wet clay called slip.Slabs can be draped over or into forms,rolled aroud cyinders or buid-up in geomemetric forms.Large forms are difficult because of stress on the seams.
Bonedry
Clay that is completly dried but not yet fired.
Greenware
A term used to discribe unfired clay objects in general
Bisque Ware
Clay object that has been fired for the first time and without any glaze applied to them
Glaze Ware
bisque ware that has been glazed then fired.
Felting Knife
Is a special knife-like tool with a fairy flexi ble blade for cutting into moist and leather- hard clay.
Loop Tool
A special tool with a wooden handle and a wire loop at one or both ends, used for carving and hollowing out clay forms.
Sprigging-on
a term used to described the technique of adding small clay as decoration on the surface of pottery form;also called applied decoration.
Incising
Is a decorative technique,created by craving lines into the clay or carving small area out of the clay but not perforating it.
Kiln
A furnace designed specifically for hating clay to temperatures necessary to make it permanently hard and stone like.Kiln can be electric,natural gas,wood,coal,fuel,oil or propane.Material used to heat the Kiln can affect the work:wood ashes can build up on the surface of a piece and form a glaze at high temperate.Some potters introduce chemical into the kiln to influence the effect of firing. Frame ceramist Beatrice Wood achieved a luster effect by trowing a moth ball into the kiln.
Element
The heating of a electric kiln.
Footing
The bottom of a piece that reset upon a surface.There are two kinds:raise and flush.
Firing
Clay is hardened by heating it to a high temperature,fusing the clay particles.Primitive pottery is usually fired on the ground or the pits with watever flammable material is available.Firing has two basic atmosphere. Oxidation and Reduction ,these two atmosphere willaffect the color of the final pieces.
Glaze
Glass forming chemical usually with colorants added,that applied in liquid form to bisque ware and fired in the kiln,forming a pleasing,usually glossy coating to the surface of the clay.Glaze can be colored,opaque,translucentor matte.
Slip Clay
Clay in liquid form.
Bat
A plaster disk or slab for clay work.
Casting
A clay form made from a mold.May also br referred to as “ plaster castings.”
Casting Slip
Is liquid clay used in the process of forming object with molds.Also referred to a “slip.”
China
A term which usually refers to the bone of England,but also is associated with vitreous white wares and porcelain.
Conditioning Coat
Is a thin coat of color that will soak into the greenware or bisque ware.
Cone
A mixture of ceramic materials that is designed to vsoften and bend whenthe proper mixture of time and temperature is reached in the interior of the kiln.
Cone Plaque
Is a small clay cone holder used when cones are placed on the shelf of the kiln to stand.
Cone Temperature
Is the mixture of time and temperature at which the cone will blend to show the kiln temperature of the self.
Earthenware
A low-fired clay body which is fired to maturity at approx.2000 0F.
Food-safe
A product that has been tested and determined to be safe for use on surfaces which come in contact with food or drinks.
Foot
The base of the part of the piece of the ceramic on which it rests.
Gloss
A shiny,glass-like finish
Kiln Wash
The refractory coating applied to the top of the kiln shelves to protect them from glaze drips.
Leather-hard
Greenware that is allow to become firm but still retains its wet look.
Matte
A soft finish with a line or no shine.
Opaque
Color which do not allow other colors to show through.
Peep Hole
Small holes in the side of a kiln used for viewing shelf cones and ventilating the kiln during the firing process.
Pin Holes
Tiny holes in the final surface finish of a glaze or Underglaze.
Plasticity
Refers to the ability of clay to be formed into a shape and retain it.
Posts
Articles made of refractory material which support kiln shelves during firing.
Semi-matte
A satin- like surface which which has a slight sheen to it.
Semi-opaque
Color which generally allows only dark colors to show through.
Semi-transparent
Slightly colored and/or speckled color which allow most colors to show through with only islight distortion.
Shelf Cone Temperature
The cone temperature that is fired on the shelf of a kiln.The amount of heating tje ware actually receives.
Sponge
usually refers to a natural sponge used for cleaning and decorating greenware.There are also synthetic sponges available for ceramic.
