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A glass-like surface coating for ceramics that is used to decorate and seal the pores of the fired clay.

The process of shaping clay on the potter's wheel.

A colored decoration applied on raw or bisque ware before the glaze is applied.

A liquid mixture of clay and water used in attaching clay pieces and for surface decoration.

The stage in the drying process at which clay has dried enough to be firm but is still damp enough to be carved or joined to other pieces.

Unfired pottery or sculpture that is bone-dry and ready to be bisque fired.

A method of kneading clay to make it homogenous; ridding the clay of all air pockets.

A furnace or oven for burning, baking, or drying, especially one for firing pottery, bricks, etc.

Ceramic ware that has been fired once without glaze to make it hard and porous.

A type of clay body that has been fired to a temperature at which it is porous and opaque.

A decorating technique achieved by scratching through a surface to reveal a lower layer of a contrasting color, typically in slip or underglaze.

A white, high-firing clay body that is usually translucent and very strong.

Clay that when fired to maturity becomes a sturdy, chip-resistant material.

Fired clay that has been crushed into granules which can be added to clay bodies to reduce shrinkage and improve structural integrity.

A hand-building technique that involves shaping clay into a broad, flat, thick piece, and joining them together to form a structure.

A hand-building technique where clay is rolled into long 'snakes' and then coiled upon themselves to form a pot.

A pyramid composed of clay and glaze material that is used to gauge the heat and measure the progress of a kiln firing.

A small pyramid made from ceramic materials that melt at specific temperatures and used to monitor the firing process in a kiln.

Forms created by pinching the clay, usually starting with a ball of clay and forming it with the fingers and thumb.

A firing atmosphere with enough oxygen to allow metals in the clay and glazes to oxidize.

A firing atmosphere in which the amount of oxygen is reduced, typically achieving certain glaze colors and effects.

A technique where slip is poured into plaster molds and allowed to form a layer, the cast, on the inside cavity of the mold.

An area of the bottom of a pot that has been wiped clean of glaze before firing, to avoid sticking to the kiln shelf.

A technique of using a substance to prevent glaze or slips from adhering to certain areas of ceramic ware, yielding decorative patterns.

Refractory posts and shelves used in the kiln to support or protect the ware during firing.

A flat disc made from wood, plaster, or plastic which is affixed to the wheel head and used to throw pieces.

A low-firing process that is removed from the kiln while the glaze is molten and then allowed to cool in the open air.

A slip applied to the surface of a clay body for decorative effect and to change the surface texture.

A small viewing port in the door or wall of a kiln, through which the potter can observe the progress of the firing.

The firing process during which a clay body becomes hard and glass-like.

The network of fine lines or cracks that sometimes occurs on the surface of a glaze.

The range of temperatures at which a clay or glaze becomes mature or reaches a desired level of vitrification.

Polishing the surface of leather-hard clay or dry ware with a smooth object to compact it and produce a sheen.

The measure of how much a fired clay body can absorb water.

The process of refining the shape of a pot when it is leather-hard by removing excess clay to create a foot or other features.

The condition of clay when it is completely air-dried and ready for bisque firing.

A very fine, lustrous slip made from clay particles that can be polished to a high sheen without glazing.

The temperature at which a clay or a glaze reaches the desired level of vitrification and hardness.

Cracks that happen in ceramic ware due to thermal shock and changes in temperature during the firing process or cooling.

The concentric circles on the surface of wheel-thrown pottery caused by the movement of the potter's hands.

A fault in glazed pottery where the glaze peels and curls away from the clay body, often due to a fit that is too tight.

A decorative technique where small, shaped pieces of clay are applied to leather-hard ware.

A method of decorating ceramics where a wax-based substance is applied to prevent slips or glazes from adhering to the clay body during application.

The process by which the particle size of the clay is reduced through wedging or mixing to create a uniform composition.

A machine used to mix clay to a consistent texture and remove air bubbles before use.

Metal or plastic pins that are used to secure a bat onto the potter's wheel head.

When a clay piece deforms or collapses in the kiln due to too high a temperature or structural weakness.

The raised circular ridge on the bottom of pots like bowls and cups that provides stability and can also be decorative.

The process of making a slip less viscous by adding a deflocculant which allows the particles to repel each other.