Ceramics terms Flashcards
(44 cards)
Ceramics
Objects made of clay fired sufficiently high in temperature for a chemical change to take place in the clay body, usually over 1500 degrees F.
Coiled pottery
One of the oldest ways of forming pottery. Long standards of clay which are laid on top of each other and joined through blending coil to coil. Coil pieces can almost any shape or size.
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.
Slab built
Clay slabs are cut to shape and joined together using scoring and wet clay called slip.
Wheel thrown
The term throw comes from Old English meaning spin. A piece of clay is placed on a potters wheel head which spins.
Earthenware
A low fire clay. Porous and not waterproof. To be functional it must be glazed.
Terra cotta
A brownish orange earthenware clay body commonly used for ceramic sculpture.
Stoneware
A high fire clay. Stoneware clay body commonly used for ceramic sculpture.
Porcelain
True porcelain was being made in China and Korea around 960 AD. Porcelain is a combo of kaolin( pure white clay), silica and feldspar.
underglazes
liquid clay slip that contains coloring oxides and chemicals used to apply color and designs to a ceramic piece.
Oxides
Metal oxides can be mixed with water and applied to the surface of clay. By varying the amount of material applied and rubbed off, the potter can achieve effects similar to stained wood. The most common stain is iron oxide(rust)
Engobe
A white or colored thin layer of clay used to decorate a bisque pot. It may or may not be glazed over.
Slip
A fine, liquid form of clay applied to the surface of a vessel prior to firing. Slip fills in pores and gives uniform color.
Incised
These decorations are surface designs cut into the clay. Mishima(inlaid clay) contrasting colored slip is inlayed into incesed lines.
Sgraffito
This comes the Italian word meaning “scratched through” and is done by incising or cutting a design through colored slip coating to reveal the clay body.
Glaze
A coating of material applied to ceramics before firing that forms a glass like surface. Glazes can be colored, opaque, translucent or matter.
Matte glaze
Dull surfaced glazes lusterless and non shiny
Crackle glaze
Minute decorative cracks in the glaze that are often accentuated by rubbed in coloring material.
Dry Footing
Glaze is removed from the bottom of a piece before firing, making stilting unnecessary.
Dry Footing
Glaze is removed from the bottom of a piece before firing, making stilting unnecessary.
Crazing
The final network of small cracks that occurs on glazes. The Japanese encourage crazing and will stain cracks with concentrated tea.
Firing
Clay is hardened by heating it to a high temperature fusing the clay particles.
Kiln
The furnace in which ceramics are fired.
Leather hard
A damp condition of the clay when it is too firm to bend yet soft enough to be carved.
