Discover the secrets of pottery


Decorative and finishing techniques

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



1 A B C D E F 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134