terracotta

Terracotta is a  clay -like  earthenware   ceramic  that can be either  glazed  or unglazed. In addition to being used for  flower pots , terracotta is also often used for  water and  sewage  pipes,  bricks , and  sculptures . The word “terracotta" comes from the Italian words for “baked earth." Since terracotta  pottery  is made by baking terracotta clay, that only makes sense! Terracotta is often used as a color word, too, to describe the natural brown-orange color of terracotta products. Terracotta can be easily sculpted into all sorts of shapes. To harden terracotta, it must be heated to between 1,000-2,000° F. Once it hardens, it is still a bit  porous , which means it can be penetrated by water. However, a simple coat of glaze can make terracotta water tight. Terracotta has been around for a long, long time. In fact, it was the only clay product used until around the 14 th  centur...