Janet Kaiser on sun 16 may 04
I may have asked before, but this is getting quite urgent as the
potter concerned needs the material to fulfil a commission during
the next few months... Oh, before I continue, please DELETE or
simply look away if lead is something which makes you queasy just
thinking about it...
Now, for those of you who probably learned about glazes using
loads of raw red, white lead or galena straight out of a sack
which spilled out onto the floor and wafted around the studio :o)
also have used/ordered materials recently (in the last 5-10
years)... How and where do you think a body could source the
above-named product these days?
This is specifically for decoration in majolica technique on lead
glazed ware. Just in case the curious are still reading this
anyhow to see what gross, subversive thoughts I am having, we are
talking about TILES not vessels of any sort here folks and yes,
the potter is fully aware of all health issues!
I ask as a matter of urgency, because this friend of mine has run
out and is horrified to find that there is not a gram to be found
around that area or maybe even the whole of the UK... Enquiries
directly to suppliers explain that European rules and regulations
about toxic materials means that it is no longer permissible for
employees to handle such products. That has naturally and quite
effectively stopped production and sourcing is currently proving
impossible.
Those who have used Antimony will recall that very special yellow
it produces when at its best (not always reliable) and will be
aware how irreplaceable it is. No stains or other oxide is in the
least bit like Antimony, so unless this friend can source a bag
(a mere pound to a kilogram would be enough for all current and
future needs) it will be a sad loss for them and their clients.
Any suggestions will be gratefully received and passed on!
Thanks!
Sincerely
Janet Kaiser -- very, very stiff and sore from spending the
afternoon hosing down the back yard for the first time since I
was struck by RA. Now squeaky clean, although the power hose I
borrowed really soaked me before I realised just how best to use
it and filled my boots with filthy algae and moss-laden water.
Ugh! Sure beats using chemicals though. And so much more worm
friendly. Little critters apparently only live about a month, so
I like to give them a peaceful and enjoyable time! :o)
***********************************************************
The Chapel of Art : Capel Celfyddyd
8 Marine Crescent : Criccieth : Wales : UK
Home of The International Potters' Path
Tel: ++44 (01766) 523570 http://www.the-coa.org.uk
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pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on sun 16 may 04
Hi Janet,
If you will allow me some other names for the material, as,
I am sure your acquaintance is not seeking Metalic Antimony
as such...
I will see if I may find some in the form they require, and
proceed to arrange appropriate shipping to them.
Antimony of Lead makes no sense to me as they are respective
Metals, as would be their respective Oxides or what.
'Flowers of Lead', yes...'Sugar of Lead' , yes...as with
many other old terms, but...
I do have a recently acquired and somewhat ancient (well,
1908 or so I'd say) 7/8ths full, 1 lb. 'Merck' pharmceutical
cannister of 'Litharge' ( being the Monoxide of Lead) which
one does not see or hear much of anymore...but I am
uncertain that Merck, who used to be honest Manufacturing
Chemists, should anylonger produce it or other kindred
arcane things as make little dough compared to the ubiquity
of overpriced 'medicines' as such...but...I will find out...
Let me know...on the names...
Or just have them write me...
Phil
el ve
----- Original Message -----
From: "Janet Kaiser"
(snip...)
> I ask as a matter of urgency, because this friend of mine
has run
> out and is horrified to find that there is not a gram to
be found
> around that area or maybe even the whole of the UK...
Enquiries
> directly to suppliers explain that European rules and
regulations
> about toxic materials means that it is no longer
permissible for
> employees to handle such products. That has naturally and
quite
> effectively stopped production and sourcing is currently
proving
> impossible.
>
> Those who have used Antimony will recall that very special
yellow
> it produces when at its best (not always reliable) and
will be
> aware how irreplaceable it is. No stains or other oxide is
in the
> least bit like Antimony, so unless this friend can source
a bag
> (a mere pound to a kilogram would be enough for all
current and
> future needs) it will be a sad loss for them and their
clients.
>
> Any suggestions will be gratefully received and passed on!
> Thanks!
>
> Sincerely
Ivor and Olive Lewis on mon 17 may 04
Dear Janet,
I do not know if they are still in business but if they are I would
try the Industrial Division of Preston's, Chemical Suppliers, West
Street, Sheffield. If they cannot be found then get into the Yellow
Pages. Look for Industrial Chemical Supplies. Liverpool would be your
nearest best bet.
Or go to the Paint supplier and ask for True Naples Yellow, not
substitute naples yellow. You might try Winsor and Newton water
colours. Some artist suppliers stock dry pigments for the Egg Tempera
Brigade.
Best regards,
Ivor Lewis. Redhill, South Australia
Janet Kaiser on mon 17 may 04
Many thanks to Ivor the Aussie and Phil the Vegasian for thoughts
on this tough nut. The son of another friend is an archaeologist
living in Sheffield, so he may be able to help...
I am not aware of any other names for Antimony, Phil, apart from
Naples Yellow... That is when sold as a pigment and/or to
describe the colour. It produces that beautiful yellow which you
may have seen in old tiles, especially Delft and the true
maiolica vessels and tin glazed tiles of Italy? Yes, it is an
oxide... Stibum Sb2O3. Antimoniate of Lead is 3PbO SbO3 according
to my notes, although can apparently be written Pb3 (SbO4)2 too.
It has to be mixed 1:1 to achieve a stable pigment in low fired
earthenware (not over 1100=B0C) and only with a soft lead fritt
at that.
I imagine this friend will not be up this way for a few weeks,
but shall write them snail mail to ask more information. Your
question just underscores how I always presume things! I never
thought to ask beyond where they had tried to source it...
Thanks again
Sincerely
Janet Kaiser -- feeling sorry for myself with forearms covered in
itchy sore red heat bumps... Just in the sun for a half hour at
most yesterday, yet here I am as red as a turkey cock. Missed my
"Tai Chi for Arthritics" class today and also looks like we will
not be able to attend the North Wales Clay Art weekend either...
Himself had so looked forward to watching young Joe Finch
building a kiln, now that he has set his heart on making the
tiles we need to finish Phase II of The Path...
*** IN REPLY TO THE FOLLOWING MAIL:
>If you will allow me some other names for the material, as,
>I am sure your acquaintance is not seeking Metalic Antimony
>as such... I will see if I may find some in the form they
require, and
>proceed to arrange appropriate shipping to them.
>Antimony of Lead makes no sense to me as they are respective
>Metals, as would be their respective Oxides or what.
>'Flowers of Lead', yes...'Sugar of Lead' , yes...as with
>many other old terms, but...Let me know...on the names...
>Or just have them write me...
*** THE MAIL FROM pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET ENDS HERE ***
***********************************************************
The Chapel of Art : Capel Celfyddyd
8 Marine Crescent : Criccieth : Wales : UK
Home of The International Potters' Path
Tel: ++44 (01766) 523570 http://www.the-coa.org.uk
************* Virus Protection by AVG *****************
************************************************************
pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on mon 17 may 04
Hi Janet!
Happy to...any time..
Oh...not other names for Antimony, but, other terms or names
for 'Antimonium of Lead', which, being like saying
"Tin-something of Copper" made no sense to me...!
The sulphates or oxides of other compounds of Antimony and
of Lead, were ( or remain) as you well know, used as
cosmetic or Artist's or Paint pigments, Stibnite (hence Sb
in chemical symbol) I think was the sulphide and was
black...and other ancient forms of compounds were used in
making cosmetic powders or pigments of vermillion, blues and
yellows.
...or used to be used in Medicines (actually, are still
unsed in some medicines, as for the treatment of the
Schistosomiasis among other complaints to which especially
third-world flesh may be heir...).
The term you mentioned seems to be derived from a blend of
the two respective Metal's oxides...and it was the 'of' in
your term as threw me.
Alloyed with Lead, and or with Lead, Copper, Tin and what,
Antimony was or is used in Babbet Metals, Printer's Type,
Linotypes and so on, Brittainia Metals, Pewters, some
Firearm's projectiles, and generally Lead based alloys where
some additional hardness is desired...
As wet Cell Batteries (as say Car Batteries) are a ubiquity,
and employ plates or grids of Antimony-Lead alloy, one might
wonder of their eventuatiung bottom sludge as for experiment
in Glaze colors...as too, where such Batteries are reclaimed
or scrapped or their alloys re-smelted, the Oxides from
smelting might be of interest...
Of course, the usual proviso should be allways reminded,
that such Glazes be reserved for Architectual Tiles and the
like, and not for such Pottery, plates, dishes, mugs,
casseroles, crockeries and so on as anticipated potable
liquids or food.
Or unless for export to say Mexico, Italy, Spain, some or
most of the Near East, some of or most of the former
C.C.C.P., red China, North Africa, anywhere in Africa, some
of or most of South America, Central America, or wherever
the reciprocity of favor for like courtesies having been
amply rendered to us, might be tenderly observed in kind.
(...am I kidding?...uhhhhh...ohhhhhh...of course!)
Love,
Phil
el ve
----- Original Message -----
From: "Janet Kaiser"
Many thanks to Ivor the Aussie and Phil the Vegasian for
thoughts
on this tough nut. The son of another friend is an
archaeologist
living in Sheffield, so he may be able to help...
I am not aware of any other names for Antimony, Phil, apart
from
Naples Yellow... That is when sold as a pigment and/or to
describe the colour. It produces that beautiful yellow which
you
may have seen in old tiles, especially Delft and the true
maiolica vessels and tin glazed tiles of Italy? Yes, it is
an
oxide... Stibum Sb2O3. Antimoniate of Lead is 3PbO SbO3
according
to my notes, although can apparently be written Pb3 (SbO4)2
too.
It has to be mixed 1:1 to achieve a stable pigment in low
fired
earthenware (not over 1100°C) and only with a soft lead
fritt
at that.
I imagine this friend will not be up this way for a few
weeks,
but shall write them snail mail to ask more information.
Your
question just underscores how I always presume things! I
never
thought to ask beyond where they had tried to source it...
Thanks again
Sincerely
Janet Kaiser
Marshall Colman on sun 29 aug 04
CTM Supplies in Devon, England, used to stock Antimomy Oxide (Sept 2001
list), and I had some from them, but they said they were going to
discontinue it. Phone +44 (0)1395 233077 to check if they have any left.
I tried Antimony Oxide on a maiolica glaze made with lead frit, but at 1080
deg C it produced a disappointing lemon yellow and not the rich Naples
Yellow I was trying to get; it was also refractory.
The technique of studio manufacture is well described by Daphne Carnegy
in "Tin Glazed Earthenware" (London, A & C Black, 1993), p.85. E.g.:
Antimony oxide 11
Lead oxide 20
Tin oxide 6
Calcine at 950 deg C, grind and sieve through 200 mesh.
However, this does not solve the problem of sourcing either antimony or
lead oxide, which are are both virtually impossible to find.
If anyone would know, Alan Caiger-Smith of the Aldermaston Pottery,
England, would. He is probably the world authority on maiolica and edited
the English translation of Picolpasso's "Three Books of the Potter's Art".
Mixing standard potter's underglaze colours (say, 3 parts yellow to 1 part
red) produces a reasonable approximation to Naples yellow.
Marshall
Ivor and Olive Lewis on tue 31 aug 04
Dear Marshall Colman,
I think Antimony Trioxide and both Lead Oxides would be a standard
materials available from any Chemical Supply House. Should I need
either they are listed by Ace Chemicals in South Australia. I recall
there is a company in the UK called Griffin and George, in Birmingham
I believe who would carry these lines. Or you might try Prestons on
West Street in Sheffield.
Check Chemical Suppliers in the Yellow Pages.
Best regards,
Ivor Lewis.
Redhill,
S. Australia.
Steve Mills on tue 31 aug 04
Antimony Oxide is usually a stock item and we have obtained Lead Oxide
in the recent past. Lead Antimonate has also been sourced by us, though
not recently.
Steve
Bath Potters Supplies
Bath
UK
In message , Marshall Colman writes
>CTM Supplies in Devon, England, used to stock Antimomy Oxide (Sept 2001
>list), and I had some from them, but they said they were going to
>discontinue it. Phone +44 (0)1395 233077 to check if they have any left.
>
>I tried Antimony Oxide on a maiolica glaze made with lead frit, but at 10=
>80
>deg C it produced a disappointing lemon yellow and not the rich Naples
>Yellow I was trying to get; it was also refractory.
>
--
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
Marshall Colman on tue 21 sep 04
I have since discovered that Kremer Pigments in Germany sell Antimoniate of
Lead and I have asked a friend in Bavaria to get some for me at their shop
in Munich opposite the Neue Pinakotek.
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