Ceramics Vocabulary

3. Rolled, snake-like rope of clay, joined together to build pots.
5. The simplest and fastest way to create ceramics. Starting with a ball of clay, the potter opens a hole with her thumb. She forms a bowl shape by pinching the clay between her thumb on the inside and fingers on the outside.
8. Generally containers/vessels made out of clay
9. A kneading process, manipulating the clay to remove air bubbles, lumps, and excess water.
11. Describes clay that is moist and elastic to the touch; clay that is easily manipulated.
13. Unfired clay ready or nearly ready for firing.
14. Describes clay that contains no visible moisture and no dampness to the touch. Clay is ready to be fired at this stage.
15. Scratching or roughing-up the clay surface. Use this technique with slip to prepare for joining two or more separate clay pieces together.
16. Rolled flat section of clay that may be cut into shapes and joined together using the score and slip method.
17. Ceramics that have undergone a second firing during which glaze melts to form a glassy coat

1. Ceramics technique that allows you to create forms with clay and your hands without using a throwing wheel.
2. Finely ground clay particles mixed with water and used for joining two pieces of clay
4. Clay that has been fired once, at a low temperature. Clay is hard but porous and absorbent.
6. Clay that is partially dry. It is too firm to bend yet soft enough to carve. Consistency of cheddar cheese.
7. A furnace or oven built of heat-resistant materials for firing pottery.
10. Objects made of clay fired to a high temperature (over 1550 degrees)
12. Fine grained earth materials formed by the decomposition of igneous (volcanic) rocks; plastic when wet; strong when dry; and rock hard when fired.
13. A combination of miniscule clay and glass particles mixed with water; applied to bisqueware before firing. During the firing process this applied mixture adheres to the form, giving it a hard, durable surface. Used decoratively and for waterproofing.