Ceramics Lecture Notes
1) Ceramics: Objects made from earthy materials with the aid of heat, or the process of
making these objects.
2) Pottery: Originally a term for earthenware, now loosely used to refer to any type of
ceramic ware, as well as to the workshop where it is made.
3) Silica: Oxide of silicon. SiO2 found in nature as quartz or flint sand, it is the most
common of all ceramic materials.
4) Clay: A variety of earthy material formed by the decomposition of granite. In the
process, these may have been combined with a variety of other materials, forming clay
bodies with differing maturing points.
5) Grog: Crushed or ground particles of fired clay graded in various sizes of particles.
Added to the clay body to help in drying, to add texture, and to reduce shrinkage and
warping.
6) Body (clay body): Any blend of clays and non-plastic ceramic materials that is
workable and has certain firing properties. Clay bodies are formulated to serve particular
purposes and to achieve maturity at various firing temperatures.
Type of clay:
7) Primary clay: Clay found in nature that was formed in place rather than transported
by the action of wind or water (x). Also called residual clay, Kaolin is a primary clay.
8) Kaolin (china clay): A white firing natural clay that withstands high temperatures. An
essential ingredient in porcelain, its presence in large quantities in China allowed the potters
there to develop their fine white porcelain.
9) Secondary clay: Natural clay that has been moved by water or wind from its original
source and settled elsewhere in deposits.
Type of clay body:
10) Porcelain: A translucent, nonabsorbent body fired at high temperature. White
and hard, it was first developed in China. Traditionally fired in the
2370º-2649ºF/2300º-1450ºC range (cone 10 or higher), some porcelain bodies have been
developed that mature in the 2230º-2640ºF/1220º-1289ºC range (cone 5 or higher).
11) Earthenware: Pottery that has a low maturation point fired to a low temperature
(below cone 2) and is porous and relatively soft. (see low-fire)
12) Terra-cotta: A low-fire, porous, reddish clay body, frequently containing grog or
other temper. Used throughout history for common, utilitarian ware; also used for sculpture.
1) Ceramics: Objects made from earthy materials with the aid of heat, or the process of
making these objects.
2) Pottery: Originally a term for earthenware, now loosely used to refer to any type of
ceramic ware, as well as to the workshop where it is made.
3) Silica: Oxide of silicon. SiO2 found in nature as quartz or flint sand, it is the most
common of all ceramic materials.
4) Clay: A variety of earthy material formed by the decomposition of granite. In the
process, these may have been combined with a variety of other materials, forming clay
bodies with differing maturing points.
5) Grog: Crushed or ground particles of fired clay graded in various sizes of particles.
Added to the clay body to help in drying, to add texture, and to reduce shrinkage and
warping.
6) Body (clay body): Any blend of clays and non-plastic ceramic materials that is
workable and has certain firing properties. Clay bodies are formulated to serve particular
purposes and to achieve maturity at various firing temperatures.
Type of clay:
7) Primary clay: Clay found in nature that was formed in place rather than transported
by the action of wind or water (x). Also called residual clay, Kaolin is a primary clay.
8) Kaolin (china clay): A white firing natural clay that withstands high temperatures. An
essential ingredient in porcelain, its presence in large quantities in China allowed the potters
there to develop their fine white porcelain.
9) Secondary clay: Natural clay that has been moved by water or wind from its original
source and settled elsewhere in deposits.
Type of clay body:
10) Porcelain: A translucent, nonabsorbent body fired at high temperature. White
and hard, it was first developed in China. Traditionally fired in the
2370º-2649ºF/2300º-1450ºC range (cone 10 or higher), some porcelain bodies have been
developed that mature in the 2230º-2640ºF/1220º-1289ºC range (cone 5 or higher).
11) Earthenware: Pottery that has a low maturation point fired to a low temperature
(below cone 2) and is porous and relatively soft. (see low-fire)
12) Terra-cotta: A low-fire, porous, reddish clay body, frequently containing grog or
other temper. Used throughout history for common, utilitarian ware; also used for sculpture.
