South Carolina State Ceramic Association

Competition

The show competition is an exhibit of pieces completed by artist and hobbyists since the previous year’s show. There are multiple classes, sections, and age groups. So, no matter the experience, skill level or age, there is something for everyone. And you are welcome and encouraged to share what you have completed.

Each year the association votes on a theme for the show. Entries can be related to the theme, but it is not required. However, entries are required to have been completed between the end of the previous show and the current show.

To submit entries in the competition you must have a completed competition form, and an exhibitor tag and entry fee for each entry. For each entry there should be a line on the Competition form describing the entry piece which should reflect the information on the corresponding item’s exhibitor tag.

On the Thursday before the show, bring these items with your entry pieces to the Western Carolina Fairground in Aiken SC between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.

Members of the association will be there to receive your entries and will be happy to help if you have questions or difficulties with the form or tags. But, it does speed up the process if they are completed.

See below for details on the rules and specific information for entry.

  • Professional – $3.00
  • Seniors or others – $2.00
  • Children 12 and under – $1.00

  • M – Master – Any person who is a professional. 
  • P – Professional – A person who owns or operates a ceramic business, now or in the past. A person who teaches or sells finished pieces, and a person who, now or in the past, has had a registration tax number or license in a ceramic business. 
  • AH – Advanced Hobbyist – A person who has been working with ceramics for six (6) years or longer, not as a professional.  
  • H – Hobbyist – A person who has been working with ceramics for over one (1) year, but not more than six (6) years, not as a professional. 
  • N – Novice – A person who has been working with ceramics for less than one (1) year, not as a professional. 
  • C – Children –
    • (a) Thru age 5
      (b) Ages 6 thru 8
      (c) Ages 9 thru 12 
      (d) Ages 13 thru 15 
  • SC – Senior Citizens –
    • (a) A person 62 years or older who has worked with ceramics as a professional.
      (b) A person 62 years or older who has NOT worked with ceramics as a professional. 
  • HC – Handicapped – A person who is legally handicapped of the upper body or is mentally disabled and would be at a disadvantage in other classifications. 

Class A: Underglazes
  1. Design
    • a) traced pattern
    • b) free hand
  2. Polished underglaze
  3. Embossed piece
  4. Sgraffito
  5. Any Other technique
  6. Marbleizing
Class B: Glazes
  1. Glaze only (1 color on piece)
  2. Combination, mingling
  3. Controlled glaze
  4. Specialty glaze
  5. Any other technique
  6. Majolica
  7. Marbleizing
  8. Glaze Carving
Class C: Overglazes
  1. China paint on earthenware
  2. Fired Metallics
  3. Luster
  4. Decals
  5. Any other Technique
Class D: Stains
  1. Opaque stains only
  2. Metallic, Pearl, or Glitters
  3. Translucent (Oils)
  4. Chalks (Pastels)
  5. Antiqued
  6. Design Work
  7. Dry Brush
  8. Wet Brush
  9. Any other Technique
Class E: Stain & Glaze Combination
  1. Same Surface
Class F: Airbrushing
  1. Underglazing
  2. Glaze
  3. Stain
  4. Combination
Class G: Greenware Adaptation
  1. Texturing, clay, carve, sand
  2. Piercing (cut out design)
  3. Sprigging (clay added)
  4. Combination of 2 or more pieces of greenware
  5. Clay lifting
    • a) free-hand
    • b) embossed
  6. Any other technique
Class H: Any Other Combination of Techniques
Class I: Clay
  1. Wheel Thrown
  2. Sculpture
  3. Coil
  4. Slab
  5. Flowers
  6. Free Form
  7. Clay Puzzled
  8. Any other Technique
  9. Salt glaze
Class J: Porcelain
  1. China paint – cast porcelain
  2. China paint – Commercial Blanks
  3. Non-fired Finish
  4. Lace Draping
  5. Fired antique, underglaze or glaze
  6. Sculptured
  7. Any other Technique
Class K: Stoneware
  1. Molded
  2. Hand Built
Class L: Special Features
  1. Seminar or class piece
  2. Goofs
  3. Decoupage on Ceramics
  4. Decoupage on Glass
Class M: Raku
Class N: Brushstrokes
  1. Underglaze
    • a) freehand
    • b) traced pattern
  2. Staines
    • a) freehand
    • b) traced pattern
  3. Glaze
    • a) freehand
    • b) traced pattern
Class O: Dolls
  1. Ceramic
    • a) stained
    • b) glazed
    • c) other technique
  2. Composition
  3. Porcelain – Reproduction
    • a) hard body
    • b) soft body
    • c) ball jointed
  4. Porcelain – Non-Reproduction
    • a) hard body
    • b) soft body
    • c) ball jointed
  5. Animal Dolls
    • a) stained
    • b) glazed
    • c) other technique
Class P: Blue Ribbon Winners
  1. Any piece previously blue ribbon winner in other competitions
Class Q: Glass
  1. Painted
    • a) Fired
    • b) Non-fired
    • c) Flooding/floating
  2. Brushstrokes
    • a) Freehand
    • b) Traced Pattern
  3. Sagged/Slumped
  4. Fused
  5. Tack Fused
  6. Draped
  7. Decals
  8. Combination of Techniques
  9. Jewelry
    • a) Decals
    • b) Fused
    • c) Tack Fused
    • d) Painted
    • e) Combination

  • Entries must be the individual work of the entrant with the exception of casting the greenware.
  • Items made prior to September 6th 2025 will not be accepted.
  • Names and initials on a piece must be covered
  • Lamp shades, plants, flowers or felt will not be allowed. EXCEPTIONS:
    • chess/checker pieces, bookends, and candlesticks.
  • Dolls must be displayed on stands provided by entrant.
  • Entries, which cannot be completely examined, WILL NOT BE JUDGED.
  • China paint cannot take a PEGGY OR JASMINE AWARD in the show
  • All pieces must be fired minimum of 1165 degrees fahrenheit (cone 022) and at least 75% clay (earthenware, porcelain, stoneware)
  • Reproduction dolls must have a photograph of the original doll attached
  • The South Carolina State Ceramic Association WILL NOT be responsible for any breakage or damage.
  • Entries must be delivered at the Western Carolina Fairground in Aiken SC on Thursday, September 10th, 2026, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. We have several locations willing to accept entries prior to the Show. Check with your area shops.
  • A fee of $3.00 for professional, $2.00 for Seniors or others, and $1.00 for children 12 years or under per entry will be required for each entry at the time of registration 2 or 3 pieces of a chess, nativity set, etc. count as one entry)
  • Pieces must be picked up by CLAIM CHECK between 4:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 12th 2026.

Please note that when you enter a piece chose the lot that you want that piece to be judge in. If you have done a combination of techniques, you must decide which technique you want it judge on the most: i.e. you do a stained piece that has been dry brushed and antiqued. You must pick one or the other lot to put it under or list it in “any other technique.” The piece will be judged 1st on the cleaning and workmanship, then on the lot and then finally on the overall results.

TIPS

The bottom of ceramic pieces should be finished, i.e. glazed, or stained and sprayed. Stilt marks must be removed. If removing a stilt mark leaves a white mark, stain the spot and cover with clear sealer. You can rub scratch marks on glazed pieces with baby oil and they will not show. Finish the inside and bottom of the piece. Pieces with lids or tops should be taped together.

Judging will be Thursday evening, and the results will be on display when the show opens on Friday.

Entries Can Not be picked up before 4pm on the last day of the show.

The claim ticket from the exhibitor tag must be presented to retrieve your entry.

If you have any questions about any of the information above please reach out.

Contact Us

See the galleries below for images of some previous competition entries and winners.

Previous Entries

Previous Winners