Salt Glaze

Salt Glaze

Salt glaze, in ceramics, a glaze having the texture of orange peel, formed on stoneware by throwing common salt into the kiln at the peak temperature. Sodium from the salt combines with silica in the clay to form a glassy coating of sodium silicate.

See: Glaze 

"Many thousands of tons of shipping, and seamen in proportion, which in summer trade to the northern seas, are employed in winter in carrying materials for the Burslem ware; and, as much salt is consumed in glazing one species of it, as pays annually near £5,000 duty to Government." - from a 1762 application to Parliament for a turnpike road   

decline of the use of salt glaze

  The glaze may be colourless or may be coloured various shades of brown (from iron oxide), blue (from cobalt oxide), or purple (from manganese oxide).

 

Salt glazed Staffordshire pitche Edward Walley, Salt glazed Staffordshire pitcher with heavily embossed Greek mythological figures, ferns, and leaves all the way around on a stippled background. 

It stands 10" tall and about 5 1/4" in diameter.

 

 

Salt glaze pitcher.
Salt glaze pitcher.
Cows are embossed on each side, in a blue salt glaze. 
 Measures approx. 8" high x 5" across.

 

 SALT GLAZE SUGAR BOWL
 SALT GLAZE SUGAR BOWL
Early Ridgway and Son

 


questions / comments? email Steve Birks steveb@netcentral.co.uk