GLOSSARY
Clay a natural substance of very fine flat particles which can slide across each other, making a
pliable material that can be shaped into pots or stoves
Firing
the process of baking clay pots or stoves
Grog
this can be made by grinding broken pottery to a fine powder. It can also be made by
grinding dry clay and then firing the powder
Kiln an oven or furnace in which dried clay products are fired
Kneading
working the clay by hand to improve its plasticity
Plasticity
the characteristic of moist clay that makes it pliable and workable, so that it can be
shaped into pots or stoves
Pottery
fired clay items
Resting
leaving wet clay, usually wrapped in polythene or leaves, for several weeks or longer. This
allows the water particles to distribute evenly through the clay particles and strengthens
the micro-structure of the clay
Scratch and slipa method of joining two clay surfaces by scratching or scoring both surfaces to roughen
them and applying slip as a glue, before joining the surfaces
Slip a thick mixture of clay and water with a consistency of porridge that is used as a "glue" to
hold pieces of clay together
Wedging
a method of mixing clay by hand to form a homogeneous texture free of air bubbles