OLD FORMULAS

I was moving a bunch of magazines around, making space on some storage shelves when I came across a group of old Ceramic Monthly magazines from the late 1960s. Since I am easily distracted, the next thing I know I am thumbing through a few issues when I came across a single page of various crackle glaze formulas ranging from cone 06 all the way to cone10 and after looking at the actual formulas, a few looked promising. I threw a few small test pieces and made up two of the recipes, one of which is illustrated and as you can see, right out of the gate it works. Considering there were no photos I was not exactly sure what to expect but based on the description it sounded a bit like a Japanese style kannyu crackle of which I think it certainly shows promise. As you can see from the photo, the glaze displays a nice uniform crackle and where it is a bit thicker up around the mouth, the crackle is much more dynamic indicating a thicker application is called for next time around. I should also mention that I rubbed a good deal of the glaze off the lip in an effort to highlight the clay which worked out pretty well.

I am constantly amazed that when working with a number of older CM formulas, books from the 60s and 70s and formula handouts from potters like Warren MacKenzie, Val Cushing and David Shaner that the glazes almost always work, spot on without any fuss, muss or adjustments. I can't help but say how indebted all modern potters are to the generations that came before us in what must be considered a modern ceramics traditions of our own in the US.