pottery vocab

pottery vocab 2022-23 tantasqua

Firing

clay or enamel is processed in extreme heat in a kiln

Glaze (Gloss)

A glass surface applied by painting over bisquewear, changes color in the kiln

Slip

liquid clay used for bonding and casting

Bone-dry Clay

the clay is completely air dry, that has retained no moisture

Clay

natural earthy material that is plastic when wet and used for making pottery

Bat

a round disc made of plastic, wood or plaster used for wheel throwing

Greenware

Leather Hard Clay

Scoring

The action of making lines in the clay to help it bond, can be made using the pin tool or the metal scraper tool

Bisqueware

Once-fired clay

Centering

Locating a ball of clay on the exact center of the wheel

Pottery

Work made of clay and fired in a ceramic kiln

Throw

To fashion clay on the potters wheel

Egyptian Paste

The first known glaze discovered in Egypt, often blue in color, created to simulate gemstones

Kiln

An oven used to fires ceramics and enamels, gas fired, wood fired or electric (?)

Wedging

The process of kneading clay to remove air pockets

Slump-Mold

A mold used for making bowls and dishes

Cone

A mixture of clay with a predetermined melting point, used to time firing in the kiln

Earthenware

a secondary, low fire clay that fires red in color. Usually used by beginners.

Grog

Crushed firebrick that has been mixed into the clay to help it withstand the process of firing

Vitreous/Vitrification/Vitrified

The process of firing glaze and clay till they fuse

significant changes that occur when clay dries:

Shrinking (10-15%) , Color Change, Hardens

Pinch technique

forming a vessel through pinching the clay out form a center point

Coil technique

Coils layered on top of each-other to form a pot

Slab technique

an even, thin sheet of clay

Wheel technique

Throwing clay on a potter’s wheel

Underglaze

Non-color changing glazed used on greenware

Sgraffito

intricate carvings through underglaze on greenware

Anatomy of a pot

Foot, Hip/Shoulder, Neck, Lip, Mouth