Discover the secrets of pottery


Decorative and finishing techniques

For aesthetic reasons articles can beware. Sgraffito involves scratching
decorated by a large variety ofthrough a layer of coloured slip to
techniques , including the applicationreveal a different colour or the base
of colours and designs. Decoration canclay underneath. If done carefully, one
be:colour of slip can be fired before a
In the bodysecond is applied prior to the
On the surface of the body but beneathscratching or incising decoration. Often
the glaze, underglaze decorationslips/engobes used in this process have
In the glazea higher silica content, sometimes
On the surface of the glaze, on-glazeapproaching a glaze recipe. This is
decorationparticularly useful if the base clay is
Additives can be worked into moist claynot of the desired colour or texture.
body, prior to forming, to produceBanding, is the application, by hand or
desired characteristics to the finishedby machine, of a band of colour to the
ware. Various coarse additives, such asedge of a plate or cup. Also known as
sand and grog (fired clay which has beenlining
finely ground) to give the final productLitho, is a commonly used abbreviation
texture, and contrasting colored claysfor lithography although alternatives
and grogs result in patterns. Colorants,names of transfer or decal or used.
usually metal oxides and carbonates, areThese are used to apply designs to
added singly or in combinations toartciles. The litho comprises three
achieve a desired colour. Combustiblelayers: the colour, or image, layer
particles can be mixed with the body orwhich comprises the decorative design;
pressed into the surface to producethe covercoat, a clear protective layer,
texture.which may incorporate a low-melting
Agateware A long established technqiueglass; the backing paper on which the
is to partially mix different coloureddesign is printed by screen printing or
clay bodies to give a distinctivelithography. 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 similarwhich are suited to machine application
colour banding, whilst in Japan aGold, decoration with gold is used on
similar technqiue is called "neriage. Ansome high quality ware. Different
analogue of marquetry can also be made,methods exist for its applications,
by pressing small blocks of colouredincluding:
clays together, and using the resultingBest gold - a suspension of gold powder
mosaic to create distinctive patterns.in essential oils mixed with a flux and
To ensure the final articles area mercury salt extended. This can be
unfaulted care is needed with selectionapplied by a painting technique. From
to choice different bodies of compatiblethe kiln the decoration is dull and
shrinkage and thermal expansionrequires burnishing is reveal the full
Burnishing, like the metalwork techniquecolour
of the same name, involves rubbing theAcid Gold – a form of gold decoration
surface of the unfired article with adeveloped in the early 1860s at Mintons
suitable tool, typically of wood, steelLtd., Stoke-on-Trent, UK. The glazed
or stone, to give a smooth, polishedsurface is etched with dilute
surface which remains even after firing.hydrofluoric acid prior to application
Finer clays give a smoother, shinierof the gold. The process demands great
surface than coarser clays, as willskill and is used for the decoration
allowing the pot to dry more beforeonly of ware of the highest class.
burnishing although that risks breakageBright Gold – consists of a solution
An ancient Armenian urn.Engobe, to giveof 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-dryname derives from the appearance of the
body. Slip produced to a specific recipedecoration immediately after removal
is sometimes called an engobe. Slips orfrom the kiln as it requires no
engobes can be applied by paintingburnishing
techniques, or the piece can be dippedMussel Gold – an old method of gold
for a uniform coating. Many pre-historicdecoration. It was made by rubbing
and historic cultures used slip as thetogether gold leaf, sugar and salt,
primary decorating material on theirfollowed by washing to remove solubles.



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