Grade 9 Ceramic Glossary

Bisque Firing: The first firing undergoes to prepare it for glazing. In industry this is done at a
higher temperature than the subsequent glaze firing.

Coil method One of the oldest ways of forming pottery. Long strands of clay which are laid on
top of each other and joined through blending coil to coil. Coil pieces can be almost any shape and any size.

Firing Clay is hardened by heating it to a high temperature, fusing the clay particles. Primitive
pottery is usually fired on the ground or in pits with whatever flammable material is available. Kilns allow a more efficient use of materials and more control over the atmosphere during a firing.

Glazes A vitreous coating to a ceramic material whose primary purposes are decoration or
protection Glazing is functionally important in vessels, which would otherwise be unsuitable for holding liquids due to porosity. Glazes can be colored, opaque, translucent or matte.

Greenware: Unfired pottery Kiln The furnace in which ceramics are fired. Kilns can be electric, natural gas, wood, coal, fuel
oil or propane. Materials used to heat the kiln can affect the work: wood ash can build up on the surfaces of a piece and form a glaze at high temperatures.

Leather Hard: A stage in the drying process of clay when the clay is pliable but strong enough
to handle. It is ideal for trimming and the addition of appendages such as handles and spouts. Relatively wet clay can be attached to the pot at this stage and the resulting bond will not form cracks.

Pinch Pots: Starting with a ball of clay the potter opens a hole into the ball and forms a bowl
shape through a combination of stroking and pinching the clay. Many coil-built pieces are constructed on top of a pinched bottom.

Scoring: Scoring is when you take a scoring tool (has a needle like tip) and you scratch the
surface of the clay your working with, usually using a hatching technique (making Xs).After your done scoring the area of your clay where you want to attach another piece of clay. You score the other piece of clay and add slip. You attach the pieces of clay together and then smooth the pieces together.

Shrinkage: The decrease in the size of a clay object due to drying and firing. Dry shrinkage is
reversible with the return of water, but firing shrinkage is permanent due to chemical and physical changes clay undergoes when exposed to heat.

Slab Built: Clay slabs are cut to shape and joined together using scoring and wet clay called
slip. Slabs can be draped over or into forms, rolled around cylinders or built-up into geometric forms. Large forms are difficult because of stresses on the seams and because the slab naturally sags. Some potters get around this by working fibers into the clay body. The fibers burn out during the firing, leaving a network of tiny holes.

Slip A fine, liquid form of clay applied to the surface of a clay object prior to firing. Slip fills in
pores and gives uniform color.

Wedging: To kneed or mix plastic clay by hand. A hand process used to homogenize the clay
and remove air bubbles, thus making it workable.

Match the following words to the correct definition.

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Bisque Firing Coil method Firing Glazes Greenware Kiln Leather Hard Pinch Pots Scoring Shrinkage: Wedging: Slab Built Slip

A fine liquid form of clay applied to the surface of a clay object prior to firing. A stage in the drying process of clay when the clay is pliable but strong enough to handle. To kneed or mix plastic clay by hand. The decrease in the size of a clay object due to drying and firing. Clay slabs are cut to shape and joined together using scoring and wet clay called slip. Long strands of clay which are laid on top of each other and joined through blending coil to coil. Unfired pottery A vitreous coating to a ceramic material whose primary purposes are decoration or protection Clay is hardened by heating it to a high temperature, fusing the clay particles. The first firing undergoes to prepare it for glazing. In industry this is done at a higher temperature than the subsequent glaze firing. The furnace in which ceramics are fired. Starting with a ball of clay the potter opens a hole into the ball and forms a bowl shape through a combination of stroking and pinching the clay. Scratching the surface of the clay in order to attach another piece of clay.