Sake Cup Wave inside Trifoliate Tenmoku Bowl
Kaki and Tenmoku Glazed Bowls
A growing collection of bowls with Tenmoku (black/brown), Qingbai (ice blue), Kaki (Orange - Japanese word for 'persimmon') and black silver metallic glazes.
Glazes like these were created hundreds of years ago by the Chinese. As with the ancient glazes, these contemporary counterparts are all created using red iron oxide in different concentrations as the colourant, including the ice blue. The works are fired using specific kiln schedules to achieve the different colours and textures of surface.
Another high iron glaze which belongs to this ancient family of iron-rich glazes is the Japanese Tessha (鉄砂 'iron sand') glaze. The research I conducted into the formulation of such glazes and techniques for firing them redulted in a body of work where glittering purple black crystals formed in the the rich red iron glaze when the works were fired in strong reduction in a gas kiln and cooled slowly. These works may be seen on the tessha glaze page.
Quatrefoil Bowl : : Exhibiting Hare's Fur Effect
Research into Glazes
Many tests have been conducted in the development of the glazes seen here. One effect of a tenmoku glaze known as 'Hare's fur' is evident on the large black bowl, which has streams of silver on a black ground with a blue 'eye' in the centre. Iridescence is exhibited in some tenmoku glazes as seen in these close ups. The pieces were fired to 1300°C, some in oxidation, some in reduction.
