Some of the most important properties of usable clay include its ability to be shaped without cracking or breaking (this property is known as plasticity); its ability to be fired to the temperatures necessary to transform the raw clay into a ceramic material without distortion; and its ability to be used to produce repeatable results with the same treatment, so the potter can consistently produce the wares he wants.
Clay is an abundant material resource. While there are many different types of clay, potters only use clays that have a certain range of properties. Some of the most important properties of usable clay include its ability to be shaped without cracking or breaking (this property is known as plasticity); its ability to be fired to the temperatures necessary to transform the raw clay into a ceramic material without distortion; and its ability to be used to produce repeatable results with the same treatment, so the potter can consistently produce the wares he wants.