Denby has been making pottery on the same site in the Derbyshire countryside for over 200 years, and so it's no surprise that we have a vast array of pottery techniques used in the making of our ceramics (sometimes with the most intriguing of names!). Enjoy our guide to some of the most interesting techniques used in the pottery and the definitions behind them.
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Banding:(verb)
The art of applying a glaze to the outside of a plate (the plate band) without encroaching on the face of the plate. Term used at Denby for at least 50 years. -
Biscuit:(noun)
After the clay has been fired for the first time, the unglazed ware is called biscuit. -
Diddling:(verb)
Cleaning the inside of a piece with a 'diddle stick' (sponge on a stick).
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Dipping:(verb)
Applying glaze to the outside of a hollowware item. -
Dottie:(noun)
A trolley for storing ware in progress. Origin unknown, but used at Denby for at least 100 years. -
Fettling:(verb)
Trimming of rough edges, used as a ceramic and metalwork term. At least 400 years old. We 'fettle' the seams of cast items.
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Jiggering & Jollying:(verb)
Jiggering is a method of forming the outside of a pottery item; Jollying forms the inside. -
Pattern Transfer:(verb)
A way of decorating our ware: a litho is applied and peeled off revealing a pattern. -
Pug:(noun)
A pugmill produces a cylinder of clay for use in making. The cylinder is called a pug roll, which is then sliced to create a pug. Term in existence for circa 100 years.
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Ringing:(verb)
Tapping a ceramic item to test for harmonic resonance. -
Rinsing:(verb)
Applying glaze to the inside of a hollowware item. -
Slip:(noun)
Slip is liquid clay, it is used to pour into moulds to make hollowware peices like teapots.
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Sponging:(verb)
Surface cleaning of a ceramic item to remove imperfections and smooth the surface. Originally done using wet rags. -
Sticking up:(verb)
Applying a handle by hand to a mug or cup using slip. -
Turning:(verb)
A woodworking/metalworking term which denotes the shaving of a cylindrical item on it's outer body to give form. The term is several hundred years old.