Lesley
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Washing Bisqueware – Is it a Waste of Time?
I’m in the habit of giving my bisque pottery a wipe down with a damp sponge before glazing. But I recently read that some potters never wipe or wash down their bisque ware. I wanted to know if I was wasting my time, so I looked into the pros and cons of washing bisqueware, and…
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Underglaze Flaking, Cracking and Peeling – Top Solutions
I love using underglaze, and for the most part, I find it very versatile and reliable. However, just occasionally, I have had an issue with underglaze flaking, cracking, and peeling. So, I went on a mission to find out why this was happening, and this is what I have discovered… The most common cause of…
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Decorating Pottery – 21 Great Ways to Decorate Clay
There are lots of different ways of decorating pottery. And each of these techniques can be used to put your own individual stamp on a piece of ceramics. Decorating pottery can be done at different stages in the process of making a piece of ware. For example, glazing pottery is done after the pot has…
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How to Tell How Old Pottery Is – 5 Ways to Date Pottery
It is not always easy to tell how old pottery is. In fact, it requires years of practice and significant expertise to accurately guess the age of pottery by just looking at it. It is especially difficult to determine the age of very ancient pieces as they rarely have markings, unlike those made during and…
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How to Know if My Pottery is Valuable – 6 Factors at Play
There are several reasons why you may want to know if your pottery is valuable and by how much. You could be looking to sell it, know the price needed for its insurance, settlement, probate, trust planning, or collection. Whatever the case, it is important to know the worth of your pottery. Different pieces of…
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7 Ceramic Techniques for Making Anything Out of Clay
Clay is one of nature’s most incredible building blocks. You can make almost anything out of clay. It is very versatile and once you grasp a few key ceramic techniques, you can make almost anything. If you are learning how to work with clay, here are some of the most important ceramic techniques to try…
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How To Identify Pottery With No Markings
In theory, it is possible to identify pottery with no markings just by looking at it. But in reality, this is an almost impossible task. Pottery was often handmade, and every country and even region had its own distinctive style. Well-known artists like Picasso, and less well-known ones like Grueby, made their careers out of…
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100 Pottery Quotes – Inspired Quotes about Clay & Ceramics
Pottery, clay, and ceramics lend themselves well to a fancy well-crafted turn of phrase. I love a good quote, so I decided to collect together some of the best pottery quotes I had come across. I hope you find some inspiration or at least amusement from the 100 pottery quotes that follow. Pottery Quotes to…
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Buying a Used Pottery Wheel – 14 Tips to Help Your Search
The best way to improve your wheel throwing skills is to practice every day. Practicing every day is a lot easier if you have a pottery wheel at home. And buying a used pottery wheel can be a great way to save yourself some money. Here are some top tips on buying the right used…
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Pearlware and Creamware Pottery – 5 Key Differences
Pearlware and creamware are two of the most popular types of fine china, but they are distinctly different. Both are decorated pieces that look very similar to each other, often using the same types of patterns. What sets them apart really is their history and what inspired them. Pearlware is fine earthenware with a white…
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What Is Creamware Pottery? – Its Origins, History, and Uses
Creamware is earthenware pottery made from a combination of white clay and calcined flint. It is marked by a distinct cream color and a pale lead glaze. Creamware originated from England in the mid to the second half of the eighteenth century and is also linked to countries such as France, Italy, and the Netherlands.…
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What Is Traditional Polish Pottery? – And How is it Made?
Traditional Polish pottery is one of the oldest forms of folk art as it dates back thousands of years. It originates from a small region called Silesia, which is within the Polish village of Boleslawiec. For this reason, polish pottery is also referred to as Boleslawiec pottery. The beauty and functionality of Polish pottery make…