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Article #3: Decorative and finishing techniques

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






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