Salt glazing has been around since the 14th century. And though it’s no longer used as an industrial way of making pottery, it is still popular amongst individual potters. Small craft potteries still produce beautiful salt glazed pottery. In this article, I dive into how exactly salt glaze pottery is made. I’ll also look at…
In the field of pottery, there are lots of different types of ceramic ware. Very broadly, ‘ware’ is a term used to refer to pottery objects, in their different stages of being made. You may have wondered what the difference is between stoneware and earthenware. This article will compare stoneware vs earthenware, and in particular,…
When I first looked into kiln maintenance, I heard it was advisable to put kiln wash on the kiln floor. Whilst I could understand the point of this, painting anything on my kiln made me feel nervous. Kilns are an expensive piece of kit and I didn’t want to ruin the kiln brick. So, I…
For a long time, Japanese raku pottery remained a mystery to me. I like to make raku pottery, and I was aware that the techniques I had learned are western raku methods. I knew that these were different from the Japanese methods. But I felt a bit intimidated and ill-equipped to understand Japanese raku. However,…
Learning how to use a pottery wheel takes practice. Perhaps you are new to pottery, or maybe you want to practice your wheel throwing. Either way, you are probably wondering how to find a pottery wheel near me. It’s also possible that you would like to try pottery as a hobby. But you want to…
I’d always thought that terracotta clay should be fired at low temperatures. Firing basically means baking the clay in a kiln. But I bought some recently and the manufacturer’s spec said it could be fired up to 1181C (2158F). This is much higher than I thought, and it led me to question what I know…
Clay is dug up from the ground and processed so it can be used to make pottery. Often it is manufacturers who mine the clay and transport it to a processing plant. Sometimes it is individual potters who want to be self-sufficient. But this raises the question, where is clay found? Good clay for pottery…
Earthenware pottery is everywhere. It is used to make everything from roof tiles, building bricks, plant pots, and dinnerware. So, what is this amazingly versatile material called earthenware? And exactly what is earthenware made of? Here is your answer in a nutshell: Earthenware is traditionally made from ‘red earthenware’ clay or ‘red terra-cotta’. However, some…
Pottery therapy is one aspect of working with clay that doesn’t get the attention that it deserves. Pottery and other clay products are a staple in many homes and buildings today. From the aesthetic appeal that they can bring to spaces to their functional applications, the reasons for that are not farfetched. However, working with…
If you are involved in the pottery field – whether as a potter yourself or lover of fine things – you would have come across quite the number of designs and finishes. From the terra sigillata to salt-glazed pottery, these units bring different things to the table. Salt-glazed pottery is usually characterized by its German…
Terra sigillata has long been in use by potters who continue to push the limits of what’s possible. This low-fire clay method is best applied when potters are trying to achieve a fine, smooth finish on the outside of their products without glazing. But then, that begs the question – is terra sigillata food safe?…
Take it from someone who has been there: pottery can look intimidating from the outside. If you were considering how to become a potter, standing in awe of these magnificent ceramic creations could make you rethink your choices – and if you are cut out for this in the first place. Becoming a potter is…