Ceramic products
The art of CERAMICS or POTTERY goes as far as the history of mankind. The mastership of artisans reached high levels yet several millennia ago. It is impossible to imagine our civilization without ceramic kitchenware! Besides being used for household needs, ceramics was extensively created for decoration purposes. Each cultural epoch can boast of its own ceramic masterpieces. Today this craft is as popular as ever.
There are various types of ceramic materials and techniques practiced for many centuries.
TERRACOTTA (baked clay) is the first known type of pottery. In ancient times, terracotta was the main material for producing kitchenware, statuettes, various vessels and construction details. In modern times, terracotta is associated with the brownish orange color and primitive flower pots and bricks.
PORCELAIN (or china) is a kind of ceramic material made of a mineral mixture of kaolin (china clay), plastic clay, quartz, and feldspar. Porcelain ware is white, thin and almost translucent. Even without glaze it does not absorb water. The original hard paste porcelain material was first used in Ancient China and that is why it got its second name “china”. The other two kinds, soft paste and bone china, were invented in Europe.
MAJOLICA is the name for earthenware pottery decorated with a glaze of bright colors. Typically, the earthenware is massive, with an S-shaped silhouette, glittery, with contrasting colors.
FAIENCE (a.k.a. highly glazed pottery, delft, Dutch ware) is a finely porous (usually white) thin ceramic ware. This type of pottery was widespread all over the world, and in many cultures faience has distinguished glazing and painting designs.
CHAMOTTE (a.k.a. grog) is used for creation of decorative vases, reliefs. These type of ceramics has a beautiful grainy surface called “tooth”. Sometimes chamotte is glazed to get a specific mixed texture.
Nowadays masters of ceramics use various methods of decorations, such as fire greening in reducing and oxidative agents, toning and painting by salts and metal acids in color engobe, enamel or glaze.
Even though it is extremely hard to find an original technique or design today, some masters still manage to fascinate us by their ingenious creations. Enjoy the TOP-20 most creative ceramic products. We are not to judge or compare other people’s work, so the products are displayed in a random order.
Jennifer McCurdy’s Wheel Thrown Porcelain with inside gilding
