This paper aims to relate the use of clay, as a material for artistic and cultural expression, to technical aspects usually ignored by artisans and artists, based on analyses of popular and traditional modeling techniques. It searches therefore, understand how the raw material (clay), available for this community artisan from Rio Real, BA, Brazil, has influenced the spontaneous development of a modeling technique used in this Brazilian area, resulting in a peculiar way of artistic expression. It was investigated how the chemical, technological and ceramic properties of this clay are important to define the aesthetic features of artistic work and the choice of the execution method in its different phases.The methodology comprehends bibliographical research; field visit to collect data and clay samples to be analyzed, characterization on lab. The tests were performed for characterization: X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy. The ceramic tests: tensile strength flexural body-of-proof raw at 110 °C and after thermal treatment at 850 ºC, 950 ºC and 1250 °C, loss-to-fire, linear shrinkage, bulk density, porosity, water absorption, plasticity and granulometric analysis.
popular ceramics; clay; clay properties
