Ceramics Vocabulary

2. Engraving (shallow carving) a design into unfired clay.
4. Shaping a clay piece by gently hitting with a wooden paddle to create flat facets
6. Method of polishing leather hard clay by rubbing with a smooth object
7. A flat piece of clay with even thickness.
8. Handbuilding method where clay is formed by pinching repeatedly between thumb and fingers.
11. Low fire colored slip applied to bisque ware then coated with clear transparent glaze to finish, available in a wide palette of colors.
12. High fired VITREOUS ware, literally as hard and durable as stone
14. Hard-fired clay which has been ground fine and is used in clay to give structure.
15. High temperature firing for glaze firing stoneware or porcelain. (2 words
16. Initial kiln firing in which clay will no longer soften in water (2 words)
18. Glass-like coating of ceramic materials that melts smooth and bonds to the clay
19. A test used to determine if clay can no longer be joined or repaired (2 words)
20. Condition of clay where it has stiffened but is still damp (2 words)
21. Wide flat hand-held tool with a straight, curved, or serrated edge, used to smooth or shape clay surfaces.
23. Kiln firing in which glazes are melted to form a smooth glass like surface. (2 words)
26. Long thin rope-like roll of clay
27. Completely dry state clay must reach before firing (2 words)

1. Clay and water mixture, usually the consistency of thick cream, used to join clay pieces together after scoring surfaces.
3. Technique for decorating clay pieces by pressing textured objects or shapes into the surface.
5. Clay shapes added to a scored and slipped clay surface for decoration
8. Quality of damp clay of being workable without cracking.
9. Process of scratching surface of wet or leather hard clay before applying slip and joining pieces.
10. Permanent contraction of the clay in both drying and firing stages
12. Decorating technique achieved by scratching through a layer of slip or glaze before firing to expose contrasting claybody beneath.
13. Process of kneading the clay to remove air bubbles and to insure a homogenous mass
15. Forming clay by hand including pinch, coil, and slab construction
16. Glaze defect where fired glaze bubbles and leaves sharp-edged craters in surface
17. A device for rolling out large uniform slabs of clay. (2 words)
22. Low temp firing for bisque firing all types of clay or for glaze firing earthenware or terra cotta. (2 words)
24. Base of a ceramic piece.
25. Any unfired clay form.