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