Ceramics 1 - Final Exam

1. List 3 basics techniques of hand building clay?

Pinch
Coil
Slab

2. Hand-built ceramics decorated with natural pigments and fired with organic fuel
are known as?
Traditional Pottery

3. Traditional African and Native American potters still use a hand-building

technique called Coiling?

4. List the four properties that you must learn about any type of clay you work with.
Plasticity
Shrinkage
Moisture
Texture

5. The reduction in size of the clay mass, Shrinkage occurs when water in the clay
evaporates during the drying and firing.

6. What are three types of molds used with soft clay slabs?
Sling
Drape
Press

7. Before you apply glazes onto a ware what must you do first?
Remove any dust and then wipe off with a damp sponge

8. Glazes have the same characteristics as? Glass

9. List four methods of creating texture on the surface of a ceramic object?
Impressing
Incising
Applique
Piercing

10. Explain why it is important to know the correct firing temperature of a glaze?

Glazes should be matched with a clay body that shares the same firing range; for
Example, low-fire glazes are best used with low-fire clay bodies.

11. List the different forms of clay?

Earthenware
Stoneware
Porcelain
Polymer Clay

12. What are the types of glazes?

Alkaline, Raku, Ash, Salt, Soda, Slip, Crystalline

13. What are the different ways to apply glazes?

Dipping
Pouring
Brushing
Spraying

14. What are the three ingredients that make up glazes?

Silica
Flux
Alumina

15. When does a visual pattern occur?

When shapes, colors, and other elements are repeated at regular intervals

16. What are the glazing problems that occur?

Crazing, Crawling, Blistering, Pinholes, Running, Rough Surface
Vocabulary: Match each word with its definition

1. Plastic M A. A hand – building technique that involves squeezing the clay, usually
between fingers and thumb.

2. Kiln AI B. Attaching rolls of clay together to form pottery.

3. Pinching A C. Polishing the surface of a leather – hard pot to compact it and produce and
maintain a sheen at low firing temperatures

4. Glaze D D. A coating of glass that is fused to the surface of a ceramic piece

5. Slip F E. To remove clay by carving

6. Slab Building J F. A fluid suspension of clay in water used in joining clay pieces and for the
surface decoration

7. Ceramics L G. A method of refining clay in water where the heavy particles sink to the
bottom and smaller particles are skimmed off the top.

8. Mold I H. A kiln where the heat and flames are drawn downward and out through
openings at the base of the kiln.

9. Coiling B I. Any form used to shape clay.

10. Burnishing C J. Hand-building technique that involves shaping clay into a broad, flat, thick
piece.

11. Leather Hard N K. A wheel head mounted on a pedestal base and turned by hand, used in the
formation and decoration of pots.

12. Downdraft Kiln H L. Objects made from clay that permanently retain their shape after they have
been heated to specific temperatures.

13. Updraft Kiln O M. The property of clay that allows it to change shape without tearing or
breaking.

14. Levigation G N. The stage between plastic and bone dry when clay has dried, but may still be
carved or joined to other pieces.

15. Incise E O. A type of kiln where the heat is drawn through the kiln exits through the top.

16. Bisque ware S P. A material that promotes melting or increases the glass-making qualities of a
glaze.

17. Oxide T Q. A compound containing carbon and other elements, used in making and
coloring glazes or clay bodies.

18. Carbonates Q R. Unfired pottery sculpture.

19. Flux P S. Ceramic ware that has gone through the first firing at a relatively low
temperature and still maintains its porous state.

20. Green ware R T. A compound containing oxygen and other elements, used in making and
colorizing glazes or clay bodies.
21. Grog AC AA. The branch of philosophy that deals with issues of beauty such as what is
considered to be beautiful and what is considered to be art.

22. Scoring AE AB. A very soft, pliant leather; used when wet to smooth the surface of wet clay.

23. Aesthetics AA AC. Crushed fired clay used as an additive to clay body to reduce shrinkage.

24. Wedging AG AD. The process of mixing plastic clay to distribute minerals, and water evenly
throughout the body and to eliminate air bubbles.

25. Chamois AB AE. Scratching the edges of clay before joining them together.

26. Foot AJ AF. A decorating technique where a layer of slip applied to a clay body is
scratched through to reveal the clay color.

27. Kneading AD AG. A way of improving the workability of clay by reforming the mixture to make
it homogeneous and even in texture while eliminating air bubbles.

28. Banding wheel K AH. A glaze quality that allows the passage of diffused light.

29. Translucency AH AI. A structure built to fire clay at high temperatures.

30. Sgraffito AF AJ. The base of a pot upon which it can stand.