Creating a Tenmoku glaze.
Pottery glaze experimentation can be a lot of fun. Testing the specific gravity of glaze batch and performing glaze tests on test tiles is an essential step in achieving the desired results. It allows you to observe how the glaze interacts with the clay body and how it looks after firing.
By using a recipe from John Britt’s book, “The Complete Guide to Mid-Range Glazes” and incorporating similar ingredients, including red iron oxide as the main colorant, we have taken a step towards creating own version of a Tenmoku glaze.
Tenmoku Glazes are known for their brown through to black tones, with the addition of Red Iron Oxide you can create the dark the toning’s with a subtle breakout over texture of orange and coffee tones.
Firing this glaze to the top temperature of 1221°C (for cone 6) with a slow cool down plus a hold 1155°C for an hour will allow the glaze to mature and achieve its desired appearance and characteristics.
Once the firing is complete, the results from glaze test, as well as the cover glaze we’ll use to match the Tenmoku glaze, will be revealed. It’s always exciting to see how glazes turn out after firing, as they can often exhibit beautiful and unexpected effects.
Happy potting to you! Enjoy the process of creating and experimenting with glazes and may your pottery projects be successful and fulfilling. 😀
Watch for our up-and-coming videos on creating a Glossy Base Glaze we will be showing you step by step how to create your very own durable Clear Glossy Base Glaze at home.
