The art & craft of ceramics

Introduction

Contemporary ceramics

The evolution of ceramics in the 20th century

Raw materials

Clays

Mining and preparation of clays

Clay bodies

Characteristics of clay

Tools and their uses

Tools and equipment

Mold-making tools

Tools and equipment for throwing on the wheel

Glazing and decorating tools

Kilns and firing methods

Kiln furniture

Firing temperature

Firing

Production processes

Handbuilding and throwing

Pinching

Coil building

Slump molds

Mold production

Waste molds

Press molds

Slip-cast molds

Making plaster wheel molds

The potter's wheel

Glaze techniques

Glazes

Raw and fritted glazes

Characteristics of glaze ingredients

Low-fire glazes

Stoneware glazes

Copper reds

Ash glazes

Raku

Paper clay

Decorative techniques

Slips

Colored clay bodies

Underglazes

Step by step

Hollowing out solid forms

Slab building, by Ivet Bazaco

Throwing a large vessel in two sections / Josep Matés

Making a large oval vessel with salts / Carlets

Coil-building a bowl / Yukiko Murata

Sculpting vessels / Barbaformosa

Gallery

Glossary.