Ash glaze is a unique type of glaze that utilizes wood ash as a primary ingredient. This glaze imparts natural and varied effects on pottery surfaces, creating a connection between the piece and the materials of its environment.
Ingredients:
Basic ash glaze recipes typically include:
- Wood Ash: The primary source of silica and fluxing agents.
- Clay: Serves as a stabilizer and contributes to glaze texture.
- Feldspar or Nepheline Syenite: Enhances the melting properties of the glaze.
Steps:
The process of making ash glaze involves these general steps:
- Collect wood ash from burned wood or plant materials.
- Sift the ash to remove larger particles and impurities.
- Mix the sifted ash with clay and other glaze ingredients to create the glaze recipe.
- Apply the glaze to pottery using desired techniques.
- Firing: Ash glaze is typically fired in oxidation or reduction atmospheres, depending on the desired effects.
Ash glaze offers a unique way to connect pottery with its natural surroundings, resulting in unpredictable and captivating surface effects.
