| For aesthetic reasons articles can be decorated | | | | Sgraffito involves scratching through a layer of |
| by a large variety of techniques , including the | | | | coloured slip to reveal a different colour or the |
| application of colours and designs. Decoration can | | | | base clay underneath. If done carefully, one colour |
| be: | | | | of slip can be fired before a second is applied prior |
| In the body | | | | to the scratching or incising decoration. Often slips |
| On the surface of the body but beneath the | | | | engobes used in this process have a higher silica |
| glaze, underglaze decoration | | | | content, sometimes approaching a glaze recipe. |
| In the glaze | | | | This is particularly useful if the base clay is not of |
| On the surface of the glaze, on-glaze decoration | | | | the desired colour or texture. |
| Additives can be worked into moist clay body, | | | | Banding, is the application, by hand or by machine, |
| prior to forming, to produce desired | | | | of a band of colour to the edge of a plate or cup. |
| characteristics to the finished ware. Various | | | | Also known as lining |
| coarse additives, such as sand and grog (fired clay | | | | Litho, is a commonly used abbreviation for |
| which has been finely ground) to give the final | | | | lithography although alternatives names of |
| product texture, and contrasting colored clays and | | | | transfer or decal or used. These are used to |
| grogs result in patterns. Colorants, usually metal | | | | apply designs to artciles. The litho comprises three |
| oxides and carbonates, are added singly or in | | | | layers: the colour, or image, layer which comprises |
| combinations to achieve a desired colour. | | | | the decorative design; the covercoat, a clear |
| Combustible particles can be mixed with the body | | | | protective layer, which may incorporate a |
| or pressed into the surface to produce texture. | | | | low-melting glass; the backing paper on which the |
| Agateware A long established technqiue is to | | | | design is printed by screen printing or lithography. |
| partially mix different coloured clay bodies to give | | | | There are various methods of transferring the |
| a distinctive 'mottled' decoration. In Great Britain, | | | | design while removing the backing-paper, some of |
| these techniques are known as agateware, after | | | | which are suited to machine application |
| agate stone which shows similar colour banding, | | | | Gold, decoration with gold is used on some high |
| whilst in Japan a similar technqiue is called "neriage. | | | | quality ware. Different methods exist for its |
| An analogue of marquetry can also be made, by | | | | applications, including: |
| pressing small blocks of coloured clays together, | | | | Best gold - a suspension of gold powder in |
| and using the resulting mosaic to create distinctive | | | | essential oils mixed with a flux and a mercury salt |
| patterns. To ensure the final articles are unfaulted | | | | extended. This can be applied by a painting |
| care is needed with selection to choice different | | | | technique. From the kiln the decoration is dull and |
| bodies of compatible shrinkage and thermal | | | | requires burnishing is reveal the full colour |
| expansion | | | | Acid Gold – a form of gold decoration |
| Burnishing, like the metalwork technique of the | | | | developed in the early 1860s at Mintons Ltd., |
| same name, involves rubbing the surface of the | | | | Stoke-on-Trent, UK. The glazed surface is etched |
| unfired article with a suitable tool, typically of | | | | with dilute hydrofluoric acid prior to application of |
| wood, steel or stone, to give a smooth, polished | | | | the gold. The process demands great skill and is |
| surface which remains even after firing. Finer | | | | used for the decoration only of ware of the |
| clays give a smoother, shinier surface than | | | | highest class. |
| coarser clays, as will allowing the pot to dry more | | | | Bright Gold – consists of a solution of |
| before burnishing although that risks breakage | | | | gold sulphoresinate together with other metal |
| An ancient Armenian urn.Engobe, to give a finer | | | | resinates and a flux. The name derives from the |
| surface, or a coloured surface, slip can be coated | | | | appearance of the decoration immediately after |
| onto the leather-dry body. Slip produced to a | | | | removal from the kiln as it requires no burnishing |
| specific recipe is sometimes called an engobe. Slips | | | | Mussel Gold – an old method of gold |
| or engobes can be applied by painting techniques, | | | | decoration. It was made by rubbing together gold |
| or the piece can be dipped for a uniform coating. | | | | leaf, sugar and salt, followed by washing to |
| Many pre-historic and historic cultures used slip as | | | | remove solubles. |
| the primary decorating material on their ware. | | | | |