Arts & Crafts Pottery & Ceramics Crafts

Question 1

What hand-building technique shapes clay by rolling it into ropes and stacking them to build up vessel walls?

Accepted Answer

Coil building

Answer

Coil building constructs vessels by rolling clay into long ropes (coils), stacking them in rings, and blending the joins to create walls of any height or shape.

Question 2

What term describes the process of firing pottery a second time after glaze has been applied?

Accepted Answer

Glaze firing

Answer

Glaze firing (also called glost firing) is the second kiln firing in which the raw glaze melts and fuses to the bisque-ware surface to create the final glass-like coating.

Question 3

In pottery, what is the fluid mixture of clay and water used to join two pieces of clay or to coat a surface called?

Accepted Answer

Slip

Answer

Slip is a creamy suspension of clay in water used as an adhesive to join clay pieces, as a surface coating for decoration, and as the medium in slip casting.

Question 4

What pottery technique fires ware in a reduction atmosphere, producing metallic luster and random carbon flashing on the clay body?

Accepted Answer

Raku firing

Answer

Raku firing removes glowing-hot ware from the kiln and places it in a covered container of combustibles; the resulting reduction and carbon smoking creates metallic lusters and dramatic effects.

Question 5

What is the primary role of a flux in a ceramic glaze recipe?

Accepted Answer

To lower the melting temperature of silica

Answer

Flux materials (such as calcium carbonate, potassium feldspar, or zinc oxide) lower the melting point of silica and alumina, allowing the glaze to melt and fuse at kiln temperatures.

Arts & Crafts Practice Test

Arts & Crafts Practice Test

Arts & Crafts Pottery & Ceramics Crafts