Ceramics Terms

3. Firing 1st firing for Greenware
5. Heating the clay in the kiln to a specific temperature. This bakes and hardens the clay.
9. Using hands and other objects to create objects with clay
11. An oven-like chamber used to fire ceramic clay, that is heated by electricity, gas, or wood
12. Clay that is very dry and at its most fragile stage
14. Unfired clay that is bone-dry and ready to be fired the 1st time
15. To apply scratches to the surface of clay in preparation for joining 2 pieces together
17. Clay that has been fired twice, the 2nd time after being glazed

1. Watered down clay used as “glue” to join pieces together
2. Kneading clay to mix the moisture throughout and expel air bubbles
4. A long thin rope made by rolling a ball of clay back and forth between the hands until it stretches
6. Using a potter’s wheel to make forms with clay
7. Clay that has been fired once and not yet glazed
8. Clay with creamy, soft consistency that when formed will hold shape
10. Partially dried and hardened clay, still containing some moisture. Best stage to carve and attach other pieces of clay
13. Oldest and simplest method of forming clay using only hands
15. Clay is rolled out to an even thickness using a rolling pin
16. Glass forming material that fuses to clay body when fired