Wynne Wilbur on wed 5 jul 00
Hey Milton,
Fritware was a white body that the Middle Eastern potters developed for
their lusterware. It consisted of potash, quartz, and a small amount of
white clay according to Alan Caiger-Smith's excellent book - Lustre
Pottery. I'm sure it would be possible to duplicate, but I think it
would be extremely difficult to work with in any traditional way. My
original understanding was that it was their attempt to duplicate the
white porcelains that the Chinese were producing at this time although
some recent information I've read says that it was actually the other
way around. At any rate, they used it to make elegant carved and
pierced forms. Beautiful work - where did you see it?
Wynne Wilbur
Graduate Student, University of Florida
Gainesville
Milton Markey on thu 6 jul 00
Hi Wynne!
I saw the wonderful collection of ancient Middle Eastern clay works, while I
strolled through the LA County Museum Of Art. Evidently, few visitors see
this collection--the guard was quite welcoming of our presence, and was
thrilled to show us the highlights. Indeed, the glazes used with fritware are
"pearl-escent." There were three remarkable wall plaques at the museum's
collection. The colors of each plaque were fairly bright, an accomplishment
for something nearly 900 years old!
Is fritware, in today's terms, "high-fire?"
Milton NakedClay@AOL.COM
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