Pottery Glossary K - P

Kyanite
Kyanite is a refractory mineral used in pottery.

Kaolin
Kaolin is a type of very pure clay used in porcelain.

Kiln Furniture
Kiln furniture are those items used in supporting ceramic pieces as they are fired in the kiln.

Kiln Wash
Kiln wash is used to protect kiln shelves from damage during firings.

Leather-hard
Definition of the term leather-hard when used in pottery and ceramics.

Lithium Carbonate
Lithium carbonate is a flux used in pottery.

Majolica
Majolica is a historical type of earthenware pottery still practiced today.

Matte
Matte is an adjective describing a particular type of glaze surface.

Maturation
Did you know that clays and glazes mature? Not in the social sense that people do, of course, but rather in their structure.

Open
Potters refer to porous clay bodies as being open.

Oxidation
Oxidation is a particular kiln atmosphere which can strongly effect glazes and clay bodies.

Plasticity
Clay is plastic? Yes. Plasticity refers to its ability to bend and flex.

Porcelain
Porcelain refers to a particular type of pottery using a kaolin-rich clay body and fired to high temperatures.

Potshards
Potshards are broken bits of fired pottery.