Ceramics Glossary

Pottery that has been fired pottery, glazed or unglazed

• earthenware

• leatherhard

• porous

• bisque firing

The first firing of clay, typically around 1000 degrees.

• Bisque firing

• Glaze firing

• Preliminary firing

• Pit roast

A method of construction by rolling coils, long pliable cylinders, then placing them one on top of another to form different shapes.

• coiling

• cylindrical construction method

• slab building

• pinching

A glass-based liquid that is applied after the first firing to waterproof the form and used for decorative purposes

• glaze

• wax

• acrylic

• resin

Unfired pottery.

• greenware

• blueware

• pinkware

• whiteware

When the clay has been partially dried, a consistency similar to leather. Clay is still able to be scratched into.

• Leatherhard

• Greenware

• Leathering

• Wareleather

When the ceramic clay has dried completely, appears white and is very fragile

• Bone dry

• Earthenware

• Leatherhard

• Burnished

A liquid mixture of clay and water used for joinery. Also known as slurry.

• slip

• mud

• glaze

• resin

Clay is rolled into thin sheets, dried to leather hard, before constructing a form.

• slab

• coil

• pinch

• free form

The process when the pottery is polished to a shiny finish after firing.

• Waxing

• Burnishing

• Underglazing

• Smoothing