Ceramics Vocab D and E

Foot

It is the part of the ceramic pottery piece on which the main shape stands

Dry foot

The bottom of a pot that has been cleaned of all glaze before firing

Matte

The non-glossy surface quality of a completely fired glaze

Stamping

An embossed or intaglio impression can be used to build up a pattern on clay

Boss

An age-old decorative feature; a spherical hump traditionally formed by pressing from the inside of a pot but today more frequently applied to the outside

Embossing

The act of applying the boss technique

Sprig

A base-relief or medallion made in a small press mold and stuck with slip onto a pottery surface

Needle

“Pricker” is the American term.  A fine awl for cutting clay

Rib

A wooden or metal tool for smoothing or assisting in the throwing of a pot on the wheel.  The name given to this tool because older potters used a bone for this purpose

Sponge stick

A natural or polyester sponge fastened to the end of a dowel or stick, and used for absorbing surplus water from pots during throwing

Spatula Tool

A tool with a flattened, curved and rounded end.  This tool is used for designing and trimming exsess fat off of a spinning form on the potters wheel

Trimming tool

The only essential feature of a turning tool is a short firm cutting edge which can be held at a right-angle to the rotating pot.   These tools are also called “T-tools”, depending on the size one would use small T-Tool and large T-tool to describe the tool needed for the job