Ceramics Vocabulary

Front

The specific mixture of clay types, fillers, and additives that make up the 3 types of clay: Earthenware, Stoneware, and Porcelain

Back

Clay body

Front

A low-fire, fine grained clay that is usually brown, orange, or red due to the minerals in the clay. Fires at Cone 06-04.

Back

Earthenware

Front

A mid-fire, coarse grained clay body that is usually off white to grey to light brown. Harder than earthenware, it fires at cone 5-6.

Back

Stoneware

Front

A thin mixture of powdered glass, fluxes, and aluminum oxide that, when fired, creates a thin glassy layer. Used to color and seal pottery.

Back

Glaze

Front

A specialized oven used to fire a clay body, vitrifying the clay so it becomes insoluble.

Back

Kiln

Front

An equal mixture of 50% clay and 50% water that is used to decorate pottery or "glue" plastic or leather hard clay parts together.

Back

Slip

Front

Small, cone shaped pieces of clay that are designed to melt at specific temperatures to indicate the end of firing.

Back

Pyrometric Cones

Front

A method of kneading the clay body to make it homogenous and remove air pockets and water.

Back

Wedging

Front

Making small scratches in the surfaces of two clay pieces in order to attach them with slip.

Back

Score

Front

A method of creating a form by attaching ropes of clay on top of one another.

Back

Coil Building