suede (swād) n. 1. Leather with a soft napped surface. 2. Fabric made to resemble suede. —adj. 1. The state of clay for a slab or thrown vessel just after “wet,” when the surface is no longer sticky but still very flexible. 2. A stage of formed clay closer to wet than leather hard. 3. Earlier than “early leather”. 4. The stage at which I stamp, alter and dart my ceramic work. [Eng. Kieffer 2003]
that’s the problem, this “state of suede” had never been officially defined before… thanks. i can imagine that getting it at the right stage of wet/dry-ness makes all the difference in the world.
It has been a great phrase and description for me to use in teaching for the last several years, so I thought I should share it with a broader audience that would equally appreciate it!
What a great clay description and term.
So that’s what it’s called! Thanks. Have you contacted the Hamer’s to be included in the next revision of “the Potter’s Dictionary”?
Super! Is suede a proprietary entity?
;-)
It would be a RIOT to have that in the Hamer book. Yay, Suede!
Free to all for fun and description! :)
Just wanted to let you know I used your term “suede” in an article I am writing for Pottery Making Illustrated, and attributed you as the source – hopefully it will make the editorial cut cause it is such a great term. Thanks!