Crystalline Pottery

I thought I would make a post on Steemit all about Crystalline pottery and how amazing crystals are formed by the change of temperature, I have worked with stoneware and earthenware pottery and also had a go with Porcelain which is the type of Clay used in making this all work, here is a few videos showing how it is made and how certain potters have been inspired by this art form, Lots of tests have to be made until a glaze is found and then when a good glaze is made AND FIRED IN THE RIGHT WAY THEN magic IS CREATED. I have chosen Three different Crystalline potters for this post, First is Matt Horne from England.

Crystalline glazing is time consuming & expensive to produce. There can be many failures, but when all goes well the effects are stunning.

All of my pots are hand thrown in porcelain, one of the more difficult clays to throw, especially large pots. Crystalline glaze is mixed using a variety of ingredients, some measured in minute amounts. It is applied very thick, up to 4mm to encourage the glaze to run.

The pot is then placed on a pedestal and stands in a dish, to catch the runoff during the firing. When the kiln reaches the maximum temperature (up to 1300c). It is then rapidly cooled to a specific holding temperature. This is the time when the crystals form in the glaze. The amount of time held at this temperature contributes to the size of the crystals, which occur randomly, making each pot unique.

When all has cooled down, there is the delicate operation of removing the pot from the pedestal and grinding the bottom smooth.

Matt Horne Pottery

This art form was discovered by Oriental potters from China.

Tom Wallick on Crystalline Pottery

Crystalline Pottery by Kris Friedrich