Ceramics Vocabulary List B

Wedge

The process of kneading plastic clay with the fingers and heel of the hands in a spiral motion, which forces out trapped air pockets and develops a uniform texture or mixture of the clay body.

Pinch Technique

A hand-building method of construction where a ball of clay in the plastic state is repeatedly pinched and turned between the thumb and four fingers to create a small pot or bowl.

Coil Technique

A hand-building method of construction, which utilizes rolls of clay or coil rope in the plastic state to build up walls that are then joined together either internally or externally.

Slab Technique

A hand-building method of construction using clay in the leather-hard state that utilizes flat pieces of clay that must be joined together.  The technique is similar to creating a structure with wooden boards.

Throwing Technique

A hand-forming method of constuction where a ball of clay is hollowed out on a revolving wheel head.  The change over from built forms to wheel pots seems to correspond with a change from women to men potters.

Score

To scratch the surface of something to make it rough.  When done properly two pieces may be joined together to make one.

Hand Building

The forming of ceramics without a wheel, ( pinch, coil, slab).