Ceramic - Pottery Dictionary

by Susan Mussi

APPLIED DECORATION - Pottery, clay.

ca: DECORACIÓ APLICADA – Ceràmica, argila.

es: DECORACIÓN APLICADA – Cerámica, arcilla.

Applied decoration denotes clay shapes being added to another clay object. Clay, cut or molded to form a design, is added to another piece of clay. The decoration can be added easily when the clay surface is soft, but once clay is dry, slurry and scoring are necessary. Different methods of shaping can be used: dot box, molding, coiling, sprigging etc. When pieces of clay are put together they must be well sealed to prevent cracks and fractures appearing when drying or being fired. It can be very simple or very complicated as seen in Wedgwood sprigging.
See: Sprigging