Ceramics Vocab
This is clay that has not been fired yet.
What is Greenware?
This is the special oven used to fire clay.
What is a kiln?
This technique is made by pinching clay with your fingers.
What is a pinch pot?
This describes how a ceramic surface looks or feels.
What is texture?
Clay dust should never be swept—this should be used instead.
What is water (wet clean-up)?
This type of clay is partially dry and good for carving or attaching pieces.
What is leather-hard?
This process hardens clay by heating it in the kiln.
What is firing?
This technique uses long rolled pieces of clay stacked together.
What is coil building?
Adding clay to the surface to decorate is called this type of design.
What is additive design?
Scratching surfaces and using slip helps with this when joining clay.
What is strong attachment?
(or “What is score and slip?”)
This stage of clay is completely dry and very fragile.
What is bone-dry?
This tool measures temperature and heat-work inside the kiln.
What is a cone?
This technique uses flat sheets of clay to build forms.
What is slab building?
This colored decoration is applied before glaze.
What is underglaze?
This means your clay piece is well-built and won’t fall apart.
What is craftsmanship?
This is clay that has been fired once and is ready for glaze.
What is bisque (bisque-ware)?
Clay mixed with water used for decoration or attachment.
What is slip?
This decorating method uses a squeeze bottle filled with slip.
What is slip trailing?
Carving or cutting away clay is called this type of design.
What is subtractive design?
These rules must always be followed around the kiln.
What are kiln safety rules?
This liquid glass coating melts during firing and adds color and shine.
What is glaze?
A glaze labeled this is safe to eat or drink from after firing.
What is food-safe?
This technique removes clay to create designs or patterns.
What is carving or incising?
This material prevents glaze from sticking to certain areas.
What is wax resist?
Smooth joins, intentional design, and strong construction show good ____.
What is craftsmanship?