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"pool" of glass in bottom of pot

updated wed 19 sep 07

 

Beth O on mon 17 sep 07


Dear Clayart Folks,

I have been admiring some little pots that look like they have "pools" of
glass in the bottom of them. One soy sauce dish that I really like
resembles a small pool of water in a forest - beige/brown bottom with
green accents around the edges, and what looks like melted blue glass
resting on the bottom. The blue glass is transparent, like water.

How do you make something like this? Can you use any type/color of
glass? Is the piece glaze fired once, or do you melt the glass in a
second glaze firing? Are there any concerns about food safety with this
type of pot?

Thanks in advance for your help - this is a great list and I really enjoy
all of the information that is shared here.

Beth in Oregon

L. P. Skeen on tue 18 sep 07


Beth,

Blue and brown and green glasses all will melt well in the cone six =
range if they have any glaze at all either over or under them to act as =
a flux. Glass melts at a higher temperature than most glazes, but the =
glaze ingredients will make it melt at a lower temperature range. I say =
blue and brown and green glass, because I have attempted other colors =
(stained glass chips) at the cone six range, but the color burns out and =
leaves a nasty drip the color of beer. :( =20

When fusing glass with clay, you do have some concerns. One is, the =
same as with glaze and clay, they are two different materials and will =
cool at different rates unless formulated to work together. This is why =
there are glazes and clays designed to work in a certain temperature and =
expansion range. When the clay and glass don't play well together, you =
get a piece that will crack wide open. For this reason, I suggest some =
experimentation, and use test tiles under your pieces, 'cuz I'm just =
guessing here, but I bet you don't wanna grind shelves. ;) Melted glass =
runs like a you-know-what, so don't put it on the outside of anything.

Generally, and I'm sure you've noticed this in the work you are =
admiring, you get a sheet of melted looking glass with a lot of crackles =
when you put glass chips or powder on a piece. That really is all there =
is to it - break some glass bottles up into small pieces or grind them =
to a powder, and place them over the unfired glaze, wherever you want =
the effect on your work. They are pretty, but just like with a crackled =
glaze, those little crackles are places for bacteria to grow. I do not =
suggest the crackle glass effect for food surfaces.

Don Goodrich (goodrichdn@aol.com) uses glass quite a bit in his work. =
He has designed a votive holder that uses a flat plate part, where he =
carves scenes or designs and puts colored glass over. It really makes =
the design pop. He may chime in here, but if not, send him an email; =
Don is "good people" and he can help you out a lot in this area.

L
http://www.living-tree.net/calendar.htm
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Beth O=20


I have been admiring some little pots that look like they have "pools" =
of glass in the bottom of them. =20

How do you make something like this? Can you use any type/color of =
glass? Is the piece glaze fired once, or do you melt the glass in a =
second glaze firing? Are there any concerns about food safety with this =
type of pot?

sacredclay on tue 18 sep 07


Most likely colored marbles and/or glass were melted after bisqu,
glazed first and then glass put at the bottom. Because it cools so
much faster, it risks breaking your pieces. Not recommended for food,
as water gets trapped in the fine cracks in the glass. Also, you
don't know whether the glass contains lead or not. why take a chance.
You should check out Don Goodrich's works, as a simiiliar method is
used in such a creative and more practical way. Happy Potting!
Warmly, Kathryn Hughes in NC --- In clayart@yahoogroups.com, Beth O
wrote:
>
> Dear Clayart Folks,
>
> I have been admiring some little pots that look like they
have "pools" of
> glass in the bottom of them. One soy sauce dish that I really like
> resembles a small pool of water in a forest - beige/brown bottom
with
> green accents around the edges, and what looks like melted blue
glass
> resting on the bottom. The blue glass is transparent, like water.
>
> How do you make something like this? Can you use any type/color of
> glass? Is the piece glaze fired once, or do you melt the glass in a
> second glaze firing? Are there any concerns about food safety with
this
> type of pot?
>
> Thanks in advance for your help - this is a great list and I really
enjoy
> all of the information that is shared here.
>
> Beth in Oregon
>
>
______________________________________________________________________
________
> Send postings to clayart@...
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your
subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots2@...
>

Hollis on tue 18 sep 07


Hi, Beth. My white stoneware pots often have this kind of pool at the
bottom. I use a Phil Rogers ash glaze (what he calls his "standard
ash") as a liner in pots made with Laguna B Mix. Fired to cone 10, the
glaze runs down the side and pools in the bottom. Works well for me.
Hollis Engley
Hatchville Pottery
E. Falmouth, Mass.
hatchvillepottery.com

On Sep 18, 2007, at 12:21 AM, Beth O wrote:

> Dear Clayart Folks,
>
> I have been admiring some little pots that look like they have "pools"
> of
> glass in the bottom of them. One soy sauce dish that I really like
> resembles a small pool of water in a forest - beige/brown bottom with
> green accents around the edges, and what looks like melted blue glass
> resting on the bottom. The blue glass is transparent, like water.
>
> How do you make something like this? Can you use any type/color of
> glass? Is the piece glaze fired once, or do you melt the glass in a
> second glaze firing? Are there any concerns about food safety with
> this
> type of pot?
>
> Thanks in advance for your help - this is a great list and I really
> enjoy
> all of the information that is shared here.
>
> Beth in Oregon
>
> _______________________________________________________________________
> _______
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots2@visi.com
>

Don Goodrich on tue 18 sep 07


Hi Beth; So glad you asked!

Adding glass as a decorative element to pottery can be an opportunity
for creative exploration. Your post brings back memories of one of the very
first ClayArt conversations I took part in. Since it's still available,
read here:
http://lsv.ceramics.org/scripts/wa.exe?A2=ind9605&L=clayart&D=1&O=D&P=28362
(that's all one line, in case it gets separated) and the posts that follow
it.

Cheers,
Don Goodrich

http://dongoodrichpottery.com/