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| Perhaps the most
significant development in the history of ceramic art
was the production of porcelain
in ancient China. This product did not evolve suddenly
but was a gradual refinement of stoneware
over several centuries. Porcelain is
characterized by a translucent, non porous and vitrified
quality whereby the clay-glaze interface cannot be
discerned. High temperatures are required to
achieve these qualities.
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| In the ensuing
centuries porcelain production spread very
slowly to the rest of the world and several
factors may have been responsible for this, the
primary being the high firing temperatures
required. These temperatures require the use of
special kilns
and raw materials. It was in the 18
century that the technological advances in
firing and material science made the production
of porcelain possible in Europe. |
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| Our porcelain
production started in 1972. The porcelain
clay
body,
engobes
and glazes
used at our studio are specifically formulated
to enable the construction and firing of unique
handmade pieces while maintaining the integrity
of high-fired porcelain.
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| The
white clay used in our formula is primarily
composed of English Grolleg, a fine kaolin of
high purity, being close to the chemical ideal
for kaolin.
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We add silica and the fluxing agents’ sodium
and potassium. At high temperatures these
elements decompose and recombine into a totally
new material, crystalline in structure yet
possessing a hard glassy stone like character,
porcelain. |
| The glaze is
composed largely of the same materials as the
clay body: silica, alumina, sodium and
potassium, to which additional fluxing agents
have been added, borax and calcium. |
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Metallic oxides are used as colorants. The sculpture
and pottery is fired at over 2,300 degrees
Fahrenheit. |
| To guarantee a degree of
physical and chemical equilibrium special
attention is given to matching the thermal
expansion of the fired clay and glaze. |
| Our twenty-four
hour firings are labor intensive requiring
meticulous attention to detail from temperature
rise per hour to cooling. |
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| At the end
of a porcelain kiln firing, the door is opened
at approximately 2300 F, and by quickly cooling
the glaze the formation of calcium borate
crystals is avoided, then at 1400 F the door is
again closed to facilitate a slow cool finish.
This ensures a clear glaze and bright colors. |
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