My first carbon-trap, shino mug!
This weekend I tried out a new carbon-trap, shino glaze, adapted from a recipe by Ben Brierley (http://www.ben-brierley-woodfired-ceramics.co.uk/). I opened the saggar this morning and was delighted to see the glaze on this coffee mug, which shows evidence of some carbon trapping.
Some of the glaze has crawled where it’s been applied in two layers, but where the top layer has cracked in the drying, some carbon has been trapped, creating this interesting, grey crackle pattern. Inside the mug where the glaze is thinner, the shino has developed a typical pinky-red blush.
Next time, I may experiment with smoking unfired pieces after they are glazed, to create a carbonised surface prior to the glaze firing. This could intensify the carbon-trapping effects and possibly allow some control over where the carbon is placed on the pot.
Anyway, I was rather pleased with this piece and even the crawled glaze works to its advantage I think.
June 30th, 2009 at 11:53 am
nice mug guy, I’m a potter as well. Only been at it 2 years, but seems like you know what you are doing.
“Once you get clay on your hands, it will never wash off.”
June 30th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
thanks for your kind words Josh! i’m always learning something new, just trying to keep practising.
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:08 am
Looks nice,I’ve been attempting to make variations on carbon trap shino glazes and you have a great recipe on your hands. The spalding is also looks great. Congratulations,
Aaron
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Thanks aaron. I think the clay body works well with this glaze too..I’d just like to get more carbon trapping going on in the saggar. Drop me a line if you’d like the recipe.