Clay glossary

A piece of machinery used in the ceramic industry for the grinding of materials. It consists of a lined cylinder rotating about its horizontal axis and charged with flint pebbles or special ceramic grinding media, plus the material to be ground. The mill may be operated dry or wet.

1. Plaster or wooden form used to enable the movement of ware without handling.

A coating of refractory material applied to saggars, kiln furniture, etc, to prevent sticking during firing.

Fired but not yet glazed ware.

Small blister or bubble on fired clay surface.

A swelling or expansion of body due to (a) over firing or irregular firing, (b) carbon trapped within a vitreous body.

Mechanical mixing of clay or slip with water.

Name given to prepared clays.

Colourant used to colour clay body.

A thin and translucent china - historically made from a body containing bone ash, china clay and Cornish Stone.