Post 10 Glaze trial results

This trial firing very much confirmed my expectations that in testing glaze formulae it is much more about the local source of the ingredients and the firing of the kiln itself, than the recipe, which deternmins the outcome. Many many of the tests produced results that were quite unexpected. Surface finish of glazes that were suggested to be satin or matte ended up high gloss and in very few cases were the colours as expected. Certainly where ingredients have different chemical compositions the colourants will behave differently.
I do now have a few formulations however that I will use on the next set of pots. The following picture show a set of the more prospective;

One of the goals I had in going into this set of trials was to find glazes that simulated antique bronze or cast/wrought iron colouration and surface finish. I now have a few recipes that fit the bill. In preparing for the firing I made up a few small figures from medieval or ancient history to give the glaze some context.

This is the first in the shape of a lion. Nice glaze with metalic look and feel and a certain suggestion of tarnish.

And the second is a copy of a Roman sheep figure in a slightly glossier glaze although the test tile itself is a little more satin.

 

A copy of an Egyptian sphinx with a greenish tinted glaze.

 

And finally another Egyptian figure - of a sheep.

There's no doubt that even in application the glazes look different for the test tiles.

The following are a number of the prospects I'll now be working on for final pot glazing.

 This rather exhausting testing does raise almost more questions than it answers. With the formulation variability of raw ingredients the focus has to be on the target surface finish as a first priority and then the colourants second. All that means is that this testing process is just beginning. This has just been stage one of an unknown number in the series!