All clays have in common a very high surface area, the ability to absorb and bind water, and the properties of being coherent and plastic when wet and hard when dry. Pottery is clay that is modeled, dried, and fired, usually with a glaze or finish, into a vessel or decorative object. Clay is a natural product dug from the earth, which has decomposed from rock within the … Clay is the most familiar example, but glass, silica, and the glazes that give pottery its smooth, glossy finish are ceramics, too.
Understanding the Context
Ceramics play a major role in everyday life beyond the studio. They’re used … A companion to the glossary of common materials used in studio ceramics, this chart allows quick identification and understanding of the main uses of our materials. A potter may choose the raw materials for making pottery objects depending on the availability of tools and vice-versa. The basic raw materials used in pottery are clay and glazes.
