PURPOSE: To obtain working agents which can retard the abrasion of e.g. a whetstone and improve the surface quality of a ceramic product and the efficiency of working.

CONSTITUTION: This agent contains at least one metal alkoxide of the formula: (R1O)aM (where R1 is 1-4C alkyl; M is a group IIA or IVB metal of the periodic table; and (a) is the valence of M), or at least one metal alkoxide of the formula is diluted with water. This metal alkoxide reacts with M-OH groups (wherein M is not the above M but the metal of the material of which the ceramic is made) presumed to exist abundantly on the surface of a ceramic, and the formed reactional product is absorbed by the ceramic to form a kind of lubricating film which contributes to the decrease in the force of working and the improvement of quality of the worked product.