ceramics

Question 1

Raw Clay

Answer 1

(EARTHENWARE) This is clay that comes pre-mixed, free of air bubbles, and ready to go.

Question 2

Slip

Answer 2

Clay in liquid suspension - About the consistency of a thick milkshake. This is used for joining together plastic clay; can also be used as a surface decoration.

Question 3

Plastic

Answer 3

This is the stage of clay where most of the work is done, like throwing it on the wheel. Plastic clay is soft and easily workable.

Question 4

Leather Hard

Answer 4

This is the stage of clay that a pot is in when it’s half-way dry. At this stage you can carve into the clay most cleanly.

Question 5

Bone Dry (GREENWARE)

Answer 5

This stage is when the clay is Dry and when the pot has been exposed to air and all of the water has evaporated out of the clay, and it is left completely dried out. This is the stage in which it is put, very carefully, into the bisque kiln.s most fragile

Question 6

Bisque

Answer 6

Bisqued clay is clay that has been fired in a kiln, but it is still porous enough to absorb water. In this stage, no additions can be added to the pot, and it is almost complete. This is also the stage that you add glaze to the pot to prepare it for it’s final firing.

Question 7

Glaze Fired

Answer 7

After your pottery has been Bisqued, it needs to be fired again. There are lots of different types of final firing. We will be using a low fire temperature for glazing.

Question 8

Wedging

Answer 8

Process used to “knead” the clay to push “air bubbles out”

Question 9

Pinch

Answer 9

“Pinch” in ceramics is a method of shaping clay by inserting the thumb of one hand into the clay and lightly pinching with the thumb and fingers while slowly rotating the ball in the palm of the other hand. Pots made in this manner are called “pinch pots”

Question 10

Coil

Answer 10

This is the technique of building ceramic forms by rolling out coils, or ropes, of clay and joining them together with the fingers or a tool

Question 11

Slab

Answer 11

Technique in which flat pieces of clay are joined (clay is flattened and thinned with rolling pin or slab roller)

Question 12

Score and Slip

Answer 12

Score and slip refers to a method of joining two pieces of clay together. First, score the clay; this means that you make scratches in the surfaces that will be sticking together. Then you slip it; that is you wet the surface with some slip, using it like glue. Next, you press the two pieces together. It is very important to always score and slip clay that is leather hard. If you do not, the pieces will likely pop apart when they are fired.

Question 13

Molding

Answer 13

In this technique, flat slabs of clay are pressed into molds in order to create various shapes or forms.

Question 14

Fettling

Answer 14

The removal, in the unfired state of excess body left in the shaping of pottery-ware at such places as seams and edges.

Question 15

Kiln

Answer 15

A furnace for the firing of ceramics.

Question 16

Needle or Pin Tool

Answer 16

• A sharp tool used to cut, pierce, incise designs on clay; Also used for scoring in joining.

Question 17

Rib Tool

Answer 17

• A wide, flat hand-held tool used to compress clay, shape, smooth, and/or scrape clay surfaces; usually wood, rubber, plastic, or metal, either rigid or flexible, with straight, curved, or profiled edge.

Question 18

Ribbon or Loop Tools

Answer 18

• A tool made out of flattened metal ribbons with sharpened edges. They are used mainly to trim the bases of thrown pots, but also to hollow out handmade shapes or use in subtractive embellishment.

Question 19

Fettling Knife

Answer 19

A dull knife used to cut clay or to clean joined seams of slip.

Question 20

Modeling or Boxwood Tool

Answer 20

Wooden or plastic instruments that help to shape and carve out clay. They are made in many different shapes and sizes to work with clay. The name comes from a tree which was given the name “Box tree” when it started to be used to make boxes.

Question 21

Wire

Answer 21

Used to cut clay off a larger piece and to cut in half to check for air pockets.

Question 22

Rolling Pin

Answer 22

A wooden instrument used to roll out slabs of clay to an even thickness.

Question 23

Banding Wheel

Answer 23

• An instrument upon which a clay vessel is placed that turns easily and helps the potter to apply accurate decoration.

Question 24

Hole-cutter

Answer 24

• A tool that can be inserted into clay to cut out holes.

Question 25

Slab or Guide Strips

Answer 25

• Flat wooden sticks placed on either side of a piece of clay when rolling with a rolling pin to assure even thickness of the slab of clay.

Question 26

Elephant-ear or Cellulose Sponge

Answer 26

• A device used with water to moisten the surface of the clay and smooth surface.

Question 27

Potters Wheel

Answer 27

• A device with either a manual (foot powered) or an electric rotating wheel head used to sit at and make pottery forms.

Question 28

Throwing -

Answer 28

Creating ceramic shapes on the potter’s

Question 29

Bat -

Answer 29

A flat disc made out of plaster, wood, or plastic which is affixed to the wheel head with clay or pins. Bats are used to throw pieces on that would be difficult to lift off the wheel head.

Question 30

Centering -

Answer 30

Technique to move the clay into a symmetrical rotating axis in the middle of a wheel head so you can throw it.

Question 31

Opening -

Answer 31

This is the process by which you create a recess into the centered clay to begin forming a vessel or pot.

Question 32

Trimming -

Answer 32

To finish the pot by removing excess clay on the lower part
that could not be accessed while throwing.
b. To give the pot walls and bottom an even consistent
thickness throughout.
c. To give the pot a foot for stability and/or function.
d. To give the pot aesthetic beauty and “lift”.