Glossary of Terms

The purpose of this page is to provide basic information about pottery techniques, allowing site visitors to better understand and appreciate the work they see on the website and at ACGA Exhibits and Sales. Please be sure to check back in the future for updates.

• AIRBRUSH A tiny spray gun allowing a fluid to be finely sprayed onto a surface.

• CERAMICS The art of making objects our of clay; also the objects themselves.

• CHINA PAINTING The decoration of Chinaware with ceramic colors.

• CLAY A ceramic medium composed of earthy material that is malleable when moist, but hard when fired.

• EARTHENWARE Ceramicware, usually coarse and reddish in color, fired in the lowest temperature range.

• CERAMICS The art of making objects our of clay; also the objects themselves.

• GLAZE A coating of glass used on ceramics.

• FIRED To bake causing the clay to become hard.

• KILN A large stove or oven in which pottery is fired.

• PIT FIRED Ceramic work fired at low temperature using wood as fuel. Various surface results are produced ranging from black to orange tones. No glaze is used.

• PORCELAIN Translucent, impervious, resonant pottery made in a base of kaolin, a fine white clay; sometimes any pottery that is translucent, whether or not it is made of kaolin.

• SAWDUST FIRED A low-fire process in which pots are buried in sawdust and fired by allowing the sawdust to burn slowly. Produces charcoal black and greys. No glaze is used.

• RAKU A low-fire process in which pots are fired rapidly. Once the glazes have melted, the piece is cooled rapidly in combustable material, producing lustered effects or crackled surfaced.

• SCULPTURE Freestanding figures or objects, carved or modeled in three dimensions.

• STONEWARE A dense, opaque durable, non-absorbent, hard-paste ceramic ware. Heavy duty items are made of stoneware.