Lee Love on tue 30 may 06
--- In clayart@yahoogroups.com, Ivor and Olive Lewis wrote:
> This seems like an open challenge to the Folk Lore of the
>Ceramic Arts
I think we should remember, as I mentioned previously, that firing
reduction in a gas kiln is not the same as the firing atmosphere in a
wood kiln, the way copper reds were originally fired. And firing in
saggers is not the same as having the work completely exposed to the
kiln environment.
> Your remarks about the reluctance of people to change their
>entrenched views needs support. Antiquated ideas should be
>challenged with good research using the most modern tools available.
If we don't accept modernism as the new magic, we should accept
tools based upon them working or not, and not just because they are new.
As I have mentioned previously, during my apprenticeship, when I
could not judge glaze thickness simply by scratching it and looking at
the actual depth, I could not understand why my Sensei/teacher and the
shokunin/craftsman wasted their time making so many scratch test. I
thought they should just use a hygrometer.
It wasn't until I trained my eye, after watching 6 months of
glazes test (I had the good luck of being the bisque sponger, so I sat
next to the glazing Shokunin and Sensei), and I could guess if the
Shokunin and/or Sensei would judge the glaze was okay or too thick, that
I understood that testing could be accurately done this way. It always
went from thick to thin glaze, which corresponds with thin to thick
ware, because it is very easy to thin a glaze by adding water.
Thickening a glaze requires more mixing, because the thick glaze you add
takes more work to disperse.
After more time passed, I realized that specific gravity
was not the only variable the determined glaze thickness. Other things
like the relative softness of the bisque or the humidity in the air or
even the barometric pressure can effect the thickness of the glaze on
the pot. They hygrometer does not that these variables into account.
So, don't fall prey to modernist superstitious belief. Only
accept tools and methods because they work. Not because they are new
or old.
Because of an over reliance upon electronic gauges, we are loosing
our ability to discern with our eyes and hands.
I was never very sensitive to glaze application thickness
before my apprenticeship. But Sensei's ash glaze and inlay were very
sensitive to the thickness of the glaze. Too thick and the iron body
breaks too dark. Too thick and the glaze obscures the inlay decoration.
--
Lee in Mashiko, Japan
"Let the beauty we love be what we do." - Rumi
Ivor and Olive Lewis on wed 31 may 06
Dear Lee Love,
True, so true. There are considerable differences in firing with =
differing fuels. The complexity of the chemistry decreases as you move =
from wood, to oil to gas. I am sure you have found out from practical =
experience that there are considerable differences between firings done =
with hard woods and soft woods.
Just because the "Ancients" did not have measuring or sensing =
instruments does not mean they did not behave as Scientist; observing, =
recording and reasoning.
Interesting notes thickness of application and the factors that can be =
of influence.
Best regards,
Ivor
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