Clay and Pottery Terms

Front

Clay

Back

Moist earth made of decomposed rock

Front

Firing

Back

Baking clay at a high temperature

Front

Kiln

Back

An oven for firing clay

Front

Leatherhard

Back

Unfired clay, not quite dry but firm enough to carve

Front

Greenware (Bone dry)

Back

Clay that is completely dry but had not been fired.

Front

Bisque Ware

Back

Clay that has been fired. The first fire.

Front

Glaze fire

Back

The second firing in which the glaze turns to glass

Front

Slip

Back

A mixture of clay and water. Looks like pudding (but don’t taste it!)

Front

Wedge (Knead)

Back

To remove the air bubbles

Front

Scoring

Back

Roughing up the surface of the clay. Combined with slip scoring creates a firm bond between two pieces of clay.