Falling in love with handmade pottery often comes with a few new words. At Sajo Ceramics, we want to make the world of clay and glaze feel welcoming, not overwhelming.
Here's your guide to common pottery terms every ceramics enthusiast should know!
Key Pottery Terms
Bisque: Pottery that has been fired once but not yet glazed.
Clay Body: A specific blend of clay, minerals, and sometimes organic materials used to create ceramics.
Coil Building: A hand-building technique where clay "snakes" are stacked to form shapes.
Firing: The process of heating pottery in a kiln to harden it and make it durable.
Glaze: A special coating that melts during firing to create a glassy, often colorful surface.
Greenware: Unfired clay that is dry but still fragile.
Kiln: A high-temperature oven used to fire ceramics.
Leather-Hard: A stage where clay has dried enough to be handled but is still soft enough to carve or trim.
Slip: A liquid mixture of clay and water used for decoration or joining pieces.
Throwing: Shaping clay on a pottery wheel.
Wedging: Kneading clay to remove air bubbles and create an even consistency.
Popular Types of Clay
Earthenware: Low-fire clay that's porous and often used for bright glazes.
Stoneware: Mid- to high-fire clay that's dense, durable, and perfect for functional pottery.
Porcelain: A fine, high-fire clay known for its strength, whiteness, and delicate beauty.
Common Glaze Finishes
Glossy: A shiny, glass-like finish.
Matte: A soft, non-shiny finish.
Satin: Somewhere between glossy and matte.
Crackle: A glaze that forms intentional fine cracks for decorative effect.
Fun Extra Terms
Raku: A Japanese firing technique involving removing pottery from the kiln while hot, creating dramatic glaze effects.
Sgraffito: A decorative technique where a surface layer is scratched through to reveal a contrasting colour beneath.
Burnishing: Polishing clay before firing to create a smooth, often shiny surface without glaze.
Why It Matters
Learning a little pottery lingo helps you appreciate the artistry behind every mug, bowl, and vase. It lets you see (and feel) the love and technique that go into each handmade piece.