Terminology

Question 1

Clay products made permanent by heat. The word comers from the Greek word keramos meaning potter’s clay and the ware made from it.

Answer 1

Ceramic

Question 2

hydrous silicate of alumina that is a heavy, damp, plastic material that “sets” upon drying and can be changed by heat into a hard, waterproof material. It is formed from the disintegration of granite or other Feldspathic rocks.

Answer 2

Clay (AL2O3 2SiO2 2H2O

Question 3

clays that have formed at the site of the parent rock. Primary Clays are the purest clays and have a large particle size. Example Kaolin or china clay.

Answer 3

Primary or Residual Clays

Question 4

clays that are transported by water, wind, rain, and glaciers from the site of the original parent rock. The action of the transportation wears the particle down to a smaller size. Through transportation the clay has picked up leaves, roots, and other contaminates that contribute to a very small particle size and clay of different colors. Example ball clay.

Answer 4

Secondary or Sedimentary Clay

Question 5

clay for special purpose. It is created by blending different clays or by adding to clays other minerals in order to produce a desired workability or finished result.

Answer 5

Clay-body

Question 6

the purest of high fire clays. Some can be fired to 2400ºF.

Answer 6

Porcelain

Question 7

a hard, strong, vitrified ware, usually fired above 2192ºF in which the body and glaze mature at the same time and form an integrated body-glaze layer.

Answer 7

Stoneware

Question 8

a group of low firing clays that do not vitrify and usually fire below 2154ºF. These clays are usually red or brown but can be white or cream colored

Answer 8

Earthenware

Question 9

a glass or clay-body that has been fired to a dense, hard and nonabsorbent surface.

Answer 9

Vitreous

Question 10

the quality that allows clay to be manipulated and still maintain its shape without cracking or sagging.

Answer 10

Plasticity

Question 11

he plasticity of clay can be improved by

Answer 11

aging it, by making additions of ball clay or additions of bentonite.

Question 12

clay that lacks plasticity

Answer 12

Short

Question 13

to join together two pieces of moist clay in soft to medium leather-hard condition by wetting the seam with slurry, scoring with a pin/needle tool, fork or exacta tool and pressing the parts together.

Answer 13

Lute/attach

Question 14

the process of scratching or cutting the clay area where another piece of wet or moist clay is to be attached.

Answer 14

Scoring

Question 15

clay of toothpaste-like consistency used for making attachments at soft to medium leather-hard clay (clay glue).

Answer 15

Slurry

Question 16

a suspension of clay in water. Depending upon the formulation, it can be used for casting pottery, (joining clay pieces together), of decorating clay work. Types of slips used for decoration or surface enrichment, are terra sigillatas, engobes and underglazes.

Answer 16

Slip

Question 17

are used in coloring slips, glazes and clay bodies. _______ such as copper, cobalt and iron are used in solution with water or slips for painting pottery.

Answer 17

Oxides

Question 18

commercially made colorants that usually are heat resistant to burn out.

Answer 18

Ceramic Stains

Question 19

subtracting clay from the form as in a relief carving. __________ create a design raised above the background.

Answer 19

Carving

Question 20

drawing a design into soft clay with a blunt pointed tool. This can be done in wet or soft leather-hard clay.

Answer 20

Incising

Question 21

the use of groves, usually regularly spaced, that are cut into the surface of the ceramic form. Cuts can be made horizontally, vertically, diagonally or spiraling.

Answer 21

Fluting

Question 22

cutting a number of flat sides into a round thick-walled form.

Answer 22

Faceting

Question 23

cutting through the surface of the form when its moisture content is
medium-leather.

Answer 23

Piercing

Question 24

the contraction of clay in drying and firing

Answer 24

Shrinkage

Question 25

clay that is stiff but still damp enough to be joined to other clay pieces with slurry. Considered the ideal state for finishing and surface enrichment techniques such as trimming or turning the foot on a pot, incising, carving, piercing and burnishing. Attachments should be made in the early stage of “soft” leather to avoid cracks at the attachment.

Answer 25

Leather-hard

Question 26

pottery that is dry but has not been fired

Answer 26

Green-ware

Question 27

Pottery that has been fired

Answer 27

Bisque-ware

Question 28

the process of preparing the clay that thoroughly mixes it and expels air bubbles. Rams head and spiral-wedge are two techniques used by most ceramists.

Answer 28

Wedging/Kneading

Question 29

usually a 12”X12” piece of hard wood used for transporting your work.

Answer 29

Ware Board

Question 30

a plaster, wood or plastic disc used on the wheel when throwing large forms.

Answer 30

Throwing Bat

Question 31

Japanese philosophy of beauty in imperfection.

Answer 31

Wabi-Sabi

Question 32

the quality of being tolerant and understanding, the capacity of calm endurance.

Answer 32

Patience

Question 33

to exercise or perform repeatedly in order to acquire or polish a skill.

Answer 33

Practice