Clay

earth · geology · sculpting

Ancient Building Block. People have used clay to make pottery, bricks, and tiles for over 10,000 years. Clay was so important that entire civilizations built their homes and stored their food in clay containers.

Tiny Mineral Particles. Clay is made of incredibly small grains of minerals packed together. These grains are so tiny that you can't see them individually without a microscope, which makes clay smooth and easy to shape.

Colors From Nature. Most pure clay is white or light colored, but natural clay often looks reddish, brown, or even yellow because of tiny amounts of iron and other elements mixed in. The different colors tell you where the clay came from and what's in it.

Works When Wet. Clay becomes soft and moldable when it's wet, which is why artists and potters love working with it. When you heat clay in a kiln or let it dry in the sun, it hardens permanently into a strong solid.

Dug From Earth. Clay is a natural soil material that sits underground in layers all over the world. Miners dig it up and then clean and prepare it for potters, sculptors, brick makers, and other craftspeople.