USE OF WOOD ASH IN A LOW‐FIRE MAT GLAZE *

Abstract

AbstractThe development of a low‐fire mat glaze for studio use is described in which part of the fluxes and silica and alumina are supplied by the use of wood ash. The materials required are simple and readily obtained and the glaze is easy to apply. One firing is eliminated by its application to the green ware, and the firing range is from cones 04 to 02.SummaryIn the glaze described, wood ash supplies a part of the silica and alumina çontent along with certain fluxes of which calcium is the more important.In the alumina‐type mats, wood ash produces a texture similar to that of the stoneware glaze which was the source of inspiration.The glaze can be applied by brushing, pouring, or spraying on the green ware or on bisque‐fire ware; brushing on the unfired ware is preferable. An over‐thick application destroys the beauty of the glaze.The glaze does not crawl and it is self‐healing when drying cracks appear; no cracks, however, have appeared when the glaze has been used on green ware. Handsome colors can be produced with the use of very little coloring oxide.