Ceramics Vocabulary

1. Completely dry state clay must reach before firing (2 words)
2. Long thin rope-like roll of clay
4. Clay and water mixture, usually the consistency of thick cream, used to join clay pieces together after scoring surfaces.
8. Low fire colored slip applied to bisque ware then coated with clear transparent glaze to finish, available in a wide palette of colors.
10. Technique for decorating clay pieces by pressing textured objects or shapes into the surface.
11. Quality of damp clay of being workable without cracking.
13. High temperature firing for glaze firing stoneware or porcelain. (2 words
14. Base of a ceramic piece.
15. Process of kneading the clay to remove air bubbles and to insure a homogenous mass
16. Forming clay by hand including pinch, coil, and slab construction
19. Low temp firing for bisque firing all types of clay or for glaze firing earthenware or terra cotta. (2 words)
20. Glass-like coating of ceramic materials that melts smooth and bonds to the clay
21. Process of scratching surface of wet or leather hard clay before applying slip and joining pieces.
22. Glaze defect where fired glaze bubbles and leaves sharp-edged craters in surface
23. Wide flat hand-held tool with a straight, curved, or serrated edge, used to smooth or shape clay surfaces.
24. Engraving (shallow carving) a design into unfired clay.
26. Any unfired clay form.

1. A test used to determine if clay can no longer be joined or repaired (2 words)
3. High fired VITREOUS ware, literally as hard and durable as stone
4. A flat piece of clay with even thickness.
5. Handbuilding method where clay is formed by pinching repeatedly between thumb and fingers.
6. Permanent contraction of the clay in both drying and firing stages
7. Condition of clay where it has stiffened but is still damp (2 words)
9. Initial kiln firing in which clay will no longer soften in water (2 words)
11. Shaping a clay piece by gently hitting with a wooden paddle to create flat facets
12. A device for rolling out large uniform slabs of clay. (2 words)
17. Clay shapes added to a scored and slipped clay surface for decoration
18. Kiln firing in which glazes are melted to form a smooth glass like surface. (2 words)
21. Decorating technique achieved by scratching through a layer of slip or glaze before firing to expose contrasting claybody beneath.
22. Method of polishing leather hard clay by rubbing with a smooth object
25. Hard-fired clay which has been ground fine and is used in clay to give structure.