Ceramics Vocabulary

2. Polishing the surface of leather-hard or bisque-fired pottery using a smooth tool to create a shiny finish without glaze.
5. A liquid mixture of clay and water used for decorating ceramics or as a bonding agent.
7. A handbuilding technique where clay is rolled into long, snake-like coils and stacked to form the walls of a pottery piece.
8. A type of clay body that is often porous and fired at a lower temperature than stoneware or porcelain.
9. A high-temperature oven used for firing ceramics to harden and shape clay pieces.
10. A handbuilding technique where the clay is pinched and shaped by hand, typically used to create small pots or bowls.
11. Kneading clay to remove air bubbles and ensure an even consistency before shaping or molding.
14. A stage of dryness in clay, where it is firm but still soft enough to be carved or joined with other pieces.

1. The process of heating clay and glaze in a kiln to harden the clay and/or melt the glaze.
3. Ceramic ware that has been fired once, typically at a lower temperature, and is unglazed. It is the first firing stage.
4. A thin, glassy coating applied to ceramics to provide a smooth, glossy surface and to seal the porous surface.
6. The process of turning clay into a glass-like state during firing, making it non-porous and stronger.
7. A fine-grained, natural material composed of minerals and water that becomes plastic when wet and hardens when fired.
12. Unfired pottery or clay objects, usually in the dried state but before the bisque firing.
13. Firing The first firing of clay in a kiln before glazing, usually at a lower temperature to harden the clay without vitrifying it.