Hobby Ceramic Definitions

Home

Hobby Ceramic Jargon aka Definitions

A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L	M
N	O	P	Q	R	S	T	U	V	W	X	Y	Z

Updated 18 Feb 2023 ... more to be added as time goes on

Pouring The process of pouring ceramic molds is called casting or slip casting. When you cast your mold, the spot the slip first comes into contact with the mold can create a ‘hot’ spot or a ‘hard’ spot. This can effect future castings, so it is a good idea to deflect the stream of slip as it enters the mold. If you find a yellow spot (on your piece) when sponging, make a solution of water and vinegar. If it gets fired without doing this, the glaze will be hard to apply. Warning: Too much vinegar will fizz the clay aka destroy its finish and will need to be rebuilt.

Bisqueware	In hobby ceramics it refers to objects that have been been fired, cleaned and ready to be decorated. The term canrefers to regular ceramic slip, porcelain or stoneware. Regular ceramic slip is Cone 06 for decorative items and Cone 05 for utility items, such as dinnerware, flowerpots, containers, etc. Firing hotter than Cone 05 (such as Cone 03 or Cone 02) does not increase the strength and can cause serious technical issues with the decorative glazes or underglazes that may be subsequently applied to the wares. Refer other areas of this chart for more info. Please note, ceramic bisque firing temperatures vary according to the type of clay and usage. The Old English term for Ceramic Bisque is Biscuit as in Ceramic Biscuit.

Chalking	Done with artist chalks and fired bisque which has been smoothly painted with a ivory / off white / light tan / or bone ceramic opaque water based stain. It is then antiqued down with a water or oil based medium brown stain. The chalks are scrapped onto a paper towel and picked up with a flat shader brush and gently patted onto the piece. When dry, it is sprayed with a bisque spray sealer. A sample of this technique will be shown here on our Boy and Girl Copycat Hummel figures.

China Painting	The best way to describe the art of China painting on porcelain is to view the video on YouTube: China Painting on Porcelain Since the finished piece will undergo a low firing of Cone 015 to 018, all work must and oil will fire into the piece producing undesirable results.

Clay	Clay known as liquid slip in the hobby ceramics iIndustry, comes in 3 basic formula; standard, porcelain, and stoneware. They vary in accordance to the clay used to create them, as well as the heat required to fire them.

Cones	Cones are pieces of ceramic that help you gauge whether a kiln has reached sufficient temperature and whether the pottery will have been fired the correct firing temperature; bisque/glaze Cone 05/06, reds/oranges Cone 07, overglazes Cone porcelain Cone 4/5. Pyrometric cones are used worldwide to monitor ceramic firings in industrial kilns, pottery kilns, and small hobby kilns where the consistent temperature is important to the quality of the final product being fired. For more info on Cones, please refer to the cone charts below. Orton has been the leading manufacturer of cones used in the hobby ceramic field and these charts were true for Agnestelle.. https://www.ortonceramic.com/pyrometric-cones

Cones Chart	Standard firing chart by Orton. Extended firing chart by Orthon.

Glazes	A glaze is a suspension of ground minerals that can be applied to the surface of bisque-fired ceramic pieces. After drying, the coated pieces will be heated in a kiln to the appropriate temperatures. During this process, the ingredients in the glaze will melt and form a glassy surface. For an indepth check out The Beginning Artist. This is a word document excerpt from their Website.

Greenware	In Hobby Ceramics, this name was given to clay objects when they have been casted in a plaster mold, but have not yet been fired in a ceramic kiln (aka oven). Greenware is very fragile and requires firing in a ceramic kiln (aka oven at high temperatures (usually 1500 F. or higher). Firing turns the item from clay to ceramic bisque. When the item is removed from the mold, it has a seam left where the pieces of the plaster mold came apart. This seam requires removal and this process requires the scraping of the seams with aspecial ceramic tool, a light sanding with a special ceramic sander and and a sponging with a special round ceramic spongetks before the unmolded piece can be ready for decorating or firing. There are two ways to decorate greenware once the prep is finished. 1) paint directly on the greenware with special ceramic paint, called underglaze, before firing and 2) fire the piece and then decorate with ceramic stains (usually latex paint) or painted with ceramic glazes (colored or clear glass in a suspension).

Kiln	An electric kiln is a heating chamber used to transform materials at high temperatures. A kiln hardens ceramic bodies using a process invented thousands of years ago. Clay, when heated properly, becomes hard enough to form tiles and vessels. Glazes fired over the clay become permanent decoration. The three most common types of kilns are electric, gas and wood. Electric kilns are probably the most common type of kiln used in ceramics.

Kiln Wash	It gets brushed onto the kiln shelves and the bottom of porcelain items to be fired and looks similar to glaze when applying. This barrier prevents unexpected glaze runs or drips from ruining your kiln shelves, and your work.

Molds	Ceramic molds are made of plaster as opposed to other molds being rubber, sponge, metal or plastic. The reason is that plaster absorbs water. When you fill your mold with slip (liquid clay) , the plaster begins to absorb the water and the clay platelets begin to stick to the sides of the mold. This creates the shell that will ultimately form your finished item. Ref: Ceramics Made Easy

Porcelain	High-quality, pure kaolin slip 9clay) , that once fired turns white, hence the name “whiteware.” It is white to off-white in appearance and vitreous (waterproof). Other colors can be made by dying the slip. In hobby ceramics porcelain items are fired to Cone 5. and frequently contain a significant vitreous, or glassy, component. These items must be fired flat on the kiln wased shelf and dryfooted. DO NOT STILT or the stilt becomes part of the object. Items must be supported or they will sag, especially figurines with outreaced arms. Plates need to be fired in a kiln washed special plate holder.

Pouring	The process of pouring ceramic molds is called casting or slip casting. When you cast your mold, the spot the slip first comes into contact with the mold can create a ‘hot’ spot or a ‘hard’ spot. This can effect future castings, so it is a good idea to deflect the stream of slip as it enters the mold. If you find a yellow spot (on your piece) when sponging, make a solution of water and vinegar. If it gets fired without doing this, the glaze will be hard to apply. Warning: Too much vinegar will fizz the clay aka destroy its finish and will need to be rebuilt.

Stoneware	Some molds are poured with "stoneware" slip, then cleaned and fired. They are now ready to decorate. Stoneware clay bodies when fired, are vitreous (waterproof) and best choice for making functional pieces such as tableware, mugs, cups and planters. If you fired in an electric kiln , Different glazes are used then firee to cone 6.(NOT 06). Stoneware requires a higher firing like porcelain clay.

Whiteware	Items that are poured with white or colored porcelain slip; (clay), cleaned, fired and ready to decorate or use. Porcelain is a vitreous body (waterproof), therefore, after firing, it may be used as is. It can also be decorated with China paints to color the bisque, overglazes such as gold and silver or even just glazed for a glossy or satin finish. Just remember, the overglazes gold and silver will take on the sheen of the body; bisque = antique finish (subdued) and glossy = bright finish.

The Aris Collection

Hobby Ceramics

Cast Iron Banks

Collectible items made in Occupied Japan during the summer of 1945 through the spring of 1952 while U.S. troops were in the country. The entire collection is up for sale and includes all documentation.

As of March 2023, Agnestelle Hobby Ceramic Shop only has finished pieces for sale. All molds, bisque and supplies have been turned over to Emma's Ceramic Studio (ECS).

Authentic still and Mechanical cast iron banks from the Collection of Charles Westley Atwood. These banks were first manufactured in the late 1800s, to instill the concept of earning saving money.