"A ceramic is any of the various hard, brittle, heat-resistant, and corrosion-resistant materials made by shaping and then firing an inorganic, nonmetallic material, such as clay, at a high temperature."
Introduction to the different types of ceramics and their properties, including earthenware, stoneware, porcelain, and others.
Clay: Clay is the primary material used in making ceramics, usually sourced from different regions around the world.
Firing: Firing is the process of baking clay at high temperatures to harden it, usually divided into low-fire, mid-fire, and high-fire.
Glazing: Glaze is a coating applied to ceramic surfaces before firing to improve their aesthetic qualities, enhance durability, and provide a protective layer.
Hand-building Techniques: Hand-building techniques refer to the methods used to create ceramic objects without the use of a potter's wheel, such as slab-building, coil-building, and pinch-pot techniques.
Wheel-throwing: Wheel-throwing is the process of shaping clay on a potter's wheel to form ceramic objects, such as bowls, plates, and vases.
Kiln Types: Kiln types are different means of heating ceramics, including electric kilns, gas kilns, and wood-fueled kilns.
Materials and Tools: There is a vast array of materials and tools used in making ceramics, including pottery wheels, clay mixers, brushes, glazes, and many other kinds of equipment.
Types of Ceramics: There are many different types of ceramics, including earthenware, stoneware, porcelain, bone china, and terra-cotta.
Decoration Techniques: Decoration techniques refer to the methods used to enhance the aesthetic qualities of ceramics, such as slip-trailing, sgraffito, and carving.
History of Ceramics: The history of ceramics can be traced back to ancient civilizations, such as the Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans, who created pottery for various purposes, including religious, artistic, and practical applications.
Contemporary Ceramics: Contemporary ceramics refer to the modern-day use of traditional ceramics techniques and materials to create innovative forms and designs.
Ceramic Artists: There are many notable ceramic artists throughout history who have made a significant impact on the art world, such as Bernard Leach, Pablo Picasso, and Peter Voulkos.
Specialized Techniques and Applications: There are many specialized techniques and applications of ceramics, including Raku firing, slip-casting, and ceramic sculpture, as well as various practical applications such as cookware, tiles, and bricks.
Chemistry of Ceramics: The chemistry of ceramics includes the compounds, reactions, and properties of ceramic materials, such as their strength, durability, and heat resistance.
Maintenance and Care of Ceramics: Maintenance and care of ceramics involves proper cleaning and handling techniques to ensure their longevity and preservation.
Porcelain: A type of ceramic made from kaolin clay that is fired at high temperatures. It is a hard, white, translucent material with a smooth, glass-like surface.
Earthenware: A type of ceramic made from clay that is fired at low temperatures. It is porous and often glazed to make it waterproof.
Stoneware: A type of ceramic made from clay that is fired at high temperatures. It is dense and durable and often used for dishes and cookware.
Terracotta: A type of earthenware that is fired at low temperatures and often left unglazed. It is a reddish-brown color and is commonly used for flowerpots and figurines.
Bone China: A type of porcelain that is made from a mixture of bone ash, feldspar, and kaolin clay. It is delicate and translucent with a white, ivory, or cream-colored finish.
Raku: A type of Japanese pottery that is fired at low temperatures and then removed from the kiln while still hot. It is often glazed and has a unique cracked or smoky appearance.
Majolica: A type of earthenware that is coated with a tin-glaze and then painted with colorful designs. It originated in Italy and is often used for decorative pieces.
Faience: A type of ceramic made from a mixture of clay and ground quartz that is coated with a colorful tin-glaze. It has a distinctive “crackled” appearance and was popular in the 18th century.
Ceramic Art Tile: Handcrafted ceramic tiles made from clay and fired at high temperatures. They are often used for decorative purposes in homes and public spaces.
Refractory ceramics: A type of ceramic that is designed to withstand high temperatures and harsh conditions. It is often used in furnaces and kilns.
"Common examples are earthenware, porcelain, and brick."
"The earliest ceramics made by humans were pottery objects (pots, vessels, or vases) or figurines made from clay, either by itself or mixed with other materials like silica, hardened and sintered in fire."
"Later, ceramics were glazed and fired to create smooth, colored surfaces, decreasing porosity through the use of glassy, amorphous ceramic coatings on top of the crystalline ceramic substrates."
"The word ceramic comes from the Ancient Greek word κεραμικός (keramikós), meaning 'of or for pottery' (from κέραμος (kéramos) 'potter's clay, tile, pottery')."
"The earliest known mention of the root ceram- is the Mycenaean Greek ke-ra-me-we, workers of ceramic, written in Linear B syllabic script."
"The word ceramic can be used as an adjective to describe a material, product, or process, or it may be used as a noun, either singular or, more commonly, as the plural noun ceramics."
"Ceramics now include domestic, industrial, and building products, as well as a wide range of materials developed for use in advanced ceramic engineering, such as semiconductors."
"A ceramic is any of the various hard, brittle, heat-resistant, and corrosion-resistant materials..."
"...made by shaping and then firing an inorganic, nonmetallic material, such as clay, at a high temperature."
"The earliest ceramics made by humans were pottery objects...Later, ceramics were glazed and fired to create smooth, colored surfaces."
"Ceramics now include domestic, industrial, and building products..."
"...shaping and then firing an inorganic, nonmetallic material, such as clay..."
"Ceramics were glazed and fired to create smooth, colored surfaces..."
"...decreasing porosity through the use of glassy, amorphous ceramic coatings..."
"The word ceramic comes from the Ancient Greek word κεραμικός (keramikós)... The earliest known mention of the root ceram- is the Mycenaean Greek ke-ra-me-we..."
"The word ceramic can be used as an adjective to describe a material, product, or process..."
"...a wide range of materials developed for use in advanced ceramic engineering, such as semiconductors."
"Common examples are earthenware, porcelain, and brick."
"...hard, brittle, heat-resistant, and corrosion-resistant materials..."