CSET Art Practice Test

Which firing is the last firing, can be wetted and will not soak up water?

Greenware (unfired wet clay) Leather hard (unfired but hard enough to still work with) Bisque firing (first firing) Glaze firing (last firing)

Correct Answer:

Glaze firing (last firing)

Explanation:

The important idea here is how water interaction changes after the final firing. The last firing in ceramics is the glaze firing, because applying glaze and firing to the glaze temperature creates a glassy, fused coating on the surface that seals the pores of the clay. This glaze layer is what makes the piece waterproof and able to be wetted without soaking up water. Greenware is unfired clay and is porous, so it will absorb water. Leather hard is still relatively porous and can absorb moisture as well. Bisque firing hardens the clay for durability, but the surface remains porous if it isn’t glazed, so it doesn’t become truly waterproof. Only after glaze firing does the surface become impervious to water.

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