Which term describes clay that has been fired once?

• A. Leatherhard
• B. Greenware
• C. Bisqueware
• D. Grog

Answer: (C)

Understanding clay states and what each term means. When clay has been fired once, it becomes bisqueware. That first firing, called a bisque firing, hardens the clay and makes it non-plastic, yet still porous enough to absorb glaze. Bisqueware is ready to receive glaze and then be fired again to fuse the glaze surface.

Leatherhard describes clay that has stiffened during drying but is still pliable enough to carve or join. Greenware refers to unfired clay that is dry or still moisture-containing, so it’s not yet fired at all. Grog isn’t a fired-state of clay; it’s crushed fired clay added to a body to alter texture and drying shrinkage.