From drippy and crackle to ash and lichen glazes, experienced ceramicist Linda Bloomfield guides you through the world of special effect glazes. Beautifully illustrated with pieces from both emerging and established potters that showcase stunning copper oxide-blues, metallic bronzes and manganese-pink crystal glazes, Special Effect Glazes is packed full of recipes to try out: from functional oilspot glazes using iron oxide, to explosive lava glazes. In this informative handbook discover how you can create these fantastic effects and learn the basic chemistry behind glazes in order to adjust and experiment with your unique pieces. Discussed are materials and stains, how to find them and how they affect the colour and texture of the glaze, alongside practical fixes to familiar glaze-making problems. Special Effect Glazes is essential for any ceramicist interested in creating eye-catching glazes and wanting to develop their knowledge of glaze-making, or experiment with their own formulas to achieve the perfect finish.

Discover the many forms and adornments of Purinton Pottery, an attractive hand-painted slip ware best known for its simple yet beautiful designs. More than 1100 color photographs chronicle the pottery from its early, primitive Peasant Ware stages after the company was founded in Wellsville, Ohio in 1936, to the ever-popular Apple and Pennsylvania Dutch patterns of the 1940s and '50s, with all known patterns and molds illustrated in chronological order. The company continued to manufacture pottery until 1959, producing a wide range of items from dinnerware and souvenir items to personalized blessing plates decorated by Dorothy Purinton herself. This book also identifies the various shapes made by Purinton and displays their children's wares, figurals, Christmas pieces, and experimental items. The authors go further, identifying pieces signed by the company's two most prestigious decorators, Bill Blair and Dorothy Purinton. Rounding out this thorough presentation are an index and values guide.

Once given as a premium for purchasing a product or given as a gift for buying a movie ticket during the harsh years of the Depression, this colored glassware of green, yellow, pink, blue, and other hues is now avidly collected by countless Americans. Recently hailed as one of the top collectibles sought on the Internet, Depression Glass has attracted the interest of many young enthusiasts. From Adam to Windsor, readers of this book will soon become familiar with these pattern names as well as gain a richer appreciation of this tableware's history and its value today. Very inexpensive when first produced, Depression Glassware was America's early experimentation with the mold-etched method for producing pattern glass. Today collectors recognize the beauty and creativity of the glass artisans during this period. Whether a beginning or a veteran collector, some very exciting discoveries await the reader as the pages are turned. Hundreds of glass pieces photographed in full color are accompanied by a price guide to help the collector determine the current value for these colorful and elegant pieces. Anyone who has ever found a piece of Depression glass in a relative's house, seen pieces at an antique show, or been attracted by its design and color, will find this book fascinating.

We all use ceramics on a daily basis without thinking much about it, except when it comes to a favourite mug or cup, for instance. Why is it a favourite? Is it that it holds just the right amount of tea or coffee? Is it that it sits comfortably in the hand with an ample handle that allows you to hold it safely? Is it the clay the cup is made from - a fine porcelain or robust stoneware? Is it the rustic shape or refined, delicate, traditional or contemporary design? Maybe you just like the pattern on the outside! Whatever the reason, someone will have been thinking about the ergonomics of the cup when they designed and made it and all the other ceramic items that you use, to ensure they work perfectly and give you pleasure to handle and serve your food and drink in. This book is a visual feast of ideas and advice to guide the maker through the process of designing and making successful functional ceramics that are practical and appealing in equal measure. It adopts a low-tech approach that is understandable and accessible for all and begins with the basic questions you will need to address before you begin. Each element of the process will be carefully considered, from deciding the function of the item to working out proportions and making basic drawings, to choosing the right clay, tools, and making method, and finally glazing and firing, including safety issues and the essential topic of suitability for food. Each chapter begins by presenting a varied range of basic shapes, be they thrown or hand built. The next section demonstrates a wide selection of handles, rims, feet, lids, knobs, spouts, lips, and other details that can be mixed and matched to form unique designs with personality and functionality. Working the whole process out in advance can reap tremendous rewards, ensuring the maker gets it right first time but also allowing the process to be repeated with minimum effort. From idea to finished item, this book will be the essential guide to all the techniques required to make functional ceramics that really work and give lasting pleasure to use.

This study compares text/image interaction as manifested in emblem books (and related forms) and the modern bande dessinee, or French-language comic strip. It moves beyond the issue of defining the emblematic genre to examine the ways in which emblems - and their modern counterparts - interact with the surrounding culture, and what they disclose about that culture. Drawing largely on primary material from the Bibliotheque nationale de France and from Glasgow University Library's Stirling Maxwell Collection of emblem literature, Laurence Grove builds on the ideas of Marshall McLuhan, Elizabeth Eisenstein and, more recently, Neil Rhodes and Jonathan Sawday. Divided into four sections-Theoretics, Production, Thematics and Reception-Text/Image Mosaics in French Culture broaches topics such as theoretical approaches (past and present) to text/image forms, the question of narrative within the scope of text/image creations, and the reuse of visual iconography for diametrically opposed political or religious purposes. The author argues that, despite the gap in time between the advent of emblems and that of comic strips, the two forms are analogous, in that both are the products of a 'parallel mentality'. The mindsets of the periods that popularised these forms have certain common features related to repeated social conditions rather than to the pure evolution over time. Grove's analysis and historical contextualisation of that mentality provide insight into our own popular culture forms, not only the comic strip but also other hybrid media such as advertising and the Internet. His juxtaposition of emblems and the bande dessinee increases our understanding of all such combinations of picture and text.

Southern Potteries in Erwin, Tennessee, from 1938 through 1957, was the largest producer of hand-decorated pottery in America, including Blue Ridge China. Here thousands of pieces are illustrated in over 1400 color photos with informative captions, historical facts, newly identified patterns, and old favorites.

A stunning book on kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with precious metals to highlight its history beautifully. A broken pot is made whole again, and within its golden repair we see a world of meaning. Kintsugi is the art of embracing imperfection. In Western cultures, the aim of repair has been to make the broken item 'as good as new'. Kintsugi on the other hand, is a Japanese art that leaves an obvious repair - one that may appear fragile, but which actually makes the restored ceramic piece stronger, more beautiful, and more valuable than before. Leaving clear, bold, visible lines with the appearance of solid gold, it never hides the story of the object's damage. Kintsugi traces memory, bringing together the moment of destruction and the gold seams of repair through finely-honed skills and painstaking, time-consuming labour in the creation of a new pot from the old. There is a story to be told with every crack, every chip. This story inevitably leads to kintsugi's greatest strength. an intimate metaphoric narrative of loss and recovery, breakage and restoration, tragedy and the ability to overcome it. A kintsugi repair speaks of individuality and uniqueness, fortitude and resilience, and the beauty to be found in survival. Kintsugi leads us to a respectful and appreciative acceptance of hardship and ageing. Author Bonnie Kemske explores kintsugi's metaphorical power as well as exploring the technical and practical aspects of the art, meeting with artists and ceramists in Japan and the US to discuss their personal connection to this intricate technique. With the inclusion of diary entries, personal stories, and in-depth exploration of its origin and symbolism, this book shows kintsugi's metaphoric strength as well as its striking aesthetic, making it a unique and powerful art form that can touch our lives.

An essential reference for anyone working with ceramics, from weekend crafters and students to practising ceramicists seeking a one-stop reference on techniques and processes, this workshop reference covers both traditional and contemporary practices, collecting the breadth and range of ceramic techniques into one definitive volume for amateur and specialist alike. A directory of materials, tools, machinery and furniture describes everything you need to set up an effective workshop. It includes an extensive guide to forming techniques, from pinch, coil, slab and wheel to mold-making, slip casting and extrusion, detailed sections on slip decoration, embossing and glazing, glaze recipes and applications. These techniques are explored thematically to facilitate the process of discovery that takes place in the workshop, supported by detailed descriptions and step-by-step photography. At the back of the book there is a comprehensive guide to firing and kilns, along with charts and tables for quick reference. All techniques are examined closely for relevance to practice and quality of finish. The practical processes of running a workshop are discussed alongside the more complex techniques of making unique work. Examples of how to set up a studio, good workshop practices, tool making, and recycling of materials act as a foundation to creating a strong workshop environment to carry out your work.

America in the nineteenth century Victorian age was changing as fast as the engines of the Industrial Revolution could carry it. At every turn, Flow Blue was there, first sparking the interest of the affluent and later the middle class with its rich colors and complete table services. This book puts Flow Blue in its historical context and covers the British, American and European manufacturers who produced it, the exhibitions that promoted it, the people who owned it and what moved them to buy it. Over 500 color photographs present the variety of forms and patterns in these popular wares from the 1840s to turn of the twentieth century.

From Clay to Kiln is a must-have guide for anyone working with ceramics, from absolute beginners, weekend crafters and students, through to practising ceramicists. In this book, Stuart Carey invigorates and encourages you through all stages of the pottery process. Covering all the information you need about tools and materials, he takes you through preparation and hand building, throwing and finishing your vessel, to glazing and firing. You will gain an in-depth knowledge of how clay works and how to apply your skills to the wheel and beyond. With simple step-by-step tutorials, clear visuals and Stuart's helpful hints and tips, you can jump straight in with confidence and create a piece of pottery that marries beauty, form and function. Including stunningly beautiful photography throughout, this is a book to inspire.

This book represents an extraordinary sample of Depression era glass, because Tiffin was an extraordinary glass company. Its output during the Depression was well documented and enough to keep any collector occupied for years. Most of the glass presented in this volume is from the 1920s and 1930s. With detailed captions for the more than 450 illustrations--color photographs, catalog pages, advertisements, and drawings--it is a guide to help the collector, researcher, and dealer identify, price, and enjoy this compelling glassware.

Conservation and Restoration of Glass is an in-depth guide to the materials and practices required for the care and preservation of glass objects. It provides thorough coverage of both theoretical and practical aspects of glass conservation.This new edition of Newton and Davison's original book, Conservation of Glass, includes sections on the nature of glass, the historical development and technology of glassmaking, and the deterioration of glass. Professional conservators will welcome the inclusion of recommendations for examination and documentation. Incorporating treatment of both excavated glass and historic and decorative glass, the book provides the knowledge required by conservators and restorers and is invaluable for anyone with glass objects in their care.

One of the first personalities to be identified in Etruscan art, the Micali Painter (sixth century BC), is also one of the liveliest of ancient vase-painters, and the leading exponent of a black-figure style that owed more to native imagination than the influence of imported Athenian vases. He is named after Guiseppe Micali (1769-1844), who recognized the hoard of vases discussed in this book as being the work of one man. This book presents the first full stylistic study of the painter, together with a catalogue of his surviving work (some two hundred pieces) and an account of his development and influence within the course of archaic Etruscan painting. Much of the material is hitherto unpublished, and the illustrations have been chosen to furnish a full documentation of the Micali Painter's range and originality.

The identification of English white ironstone plates is made far easier through this new book. Organized according to the shape names, the 327 color photographs and 252 drawings of plates, rims, potters' marks and registry marks are easy to compare. Copper Lustre and Tea Leaf decorations are included. Because few written records from the manufacturers are available to help analyze these plates, made in large quantities for export primarily to the United States between about 1840 and 1890, this study will be an important reference for identification and comparisons. It is both comprehensive and easy to use, providing an important tool for collectors, dealers, curators, designers, auctioneers, and historians for analyzing Victorian cultural history.

Barrie Skelcher explains the nature of uranium-colored glass, or Vaseline glass, and attributes makers to many of the examples he presents. Over 400 items shown in the color photographs are from British, American, and European glasshouses, of the 19th and first half of the 20th centuries. The manufacturers are identified along with their uranium bearing products, and a section on special interest pieces is a bonus. What strikes the observer right away are the intense colors of the glass in predominantly green, yellow, and pink hues. They comprise all sorts of useful and collectible tablewares, from condiment containers and candlesticks to bowls and flower vases. This fascinating study illuminates the subject and will be cherished by all future investigators and collectors of vaseline glass. Value ranges are included in the captions.

Polymer clay is a marvellous medium for making decorative objects. Its main advantage over natural clay is that it is available in a rainbow of different shades, from pale to primary and fluorescent to metallic. This book illustrates the remarkable repertoire of today's craft artists, from sculptural pieces, frame surrounds and ornamental eggs to miniature figures, decorative door knobs and sumptuous accessories. By following the 25 step-by-step projects, you can create intricate millefiori beads, an ornate mirror surround, a delicate mermaid figure, fluorescent tableware and delightful toy furniture. A techniques section describes the skills and equipment needed, including the different kinds of polymer clays available. This book presents this wonderful craft in an instructional and bright contemporary form.

Slip, a form of liquid clay, has been used since ancient times to add color and texture to ceramics. This method of clay decoration, practiced from Rome to Mesoamerica, continues to develop internationally. Slips allow ceramicists to give their works rich, intriguing surfaces in a range of hues. In "Techniques Using Slips," expert potter John Mathieson explains how to formulate and apply slips successfully to embellish earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain."Techniques Using Slips" gives step-by-step lessons on working with slips alone or with glaze using a range of firing methods. Beginning with a brief history of decorative slips over the millennia, this handbook guides readers through basic slip mixing and application methods, including sponging, marbling, stenciling, trailing, sgraffito, and inlay. Mathieson and forty of the world's best ceramic artists open their studios as they complete inspiring projects, revealing everything from the clays they use and englobe recipes to firing temperatures. Their artwork and techniques come to life in dozens of full-color photographs. In addition to creative approaches, "Techniques Using Slips" covers practical aspects of slip work, including equipment recommendations, supplier contact information, and important safety guidelines.With more than 170 illustrations and clear, encouraging instruction, "Techniques Using Slips" is a must for any potter's library. Ceramic artists and educators will turn to this handbook again and again for direction and insight.

Rowan LeCompte (1925-2014) was a world-renowned stained-glass artist best known for his work in Washington National Cathedral that spanned an unprecedented 70 years of artistic commission. Rowan LeCompte: Master of Stained Glass celebrates LeCompte's artistic inspiration, distinctive technique, and unique perspective on a medieval decorative art, which he transformed into a fine art for modern times. The book traces his fascinating trajectory, from a determined teenager to a charming octogenarian with a clear vision of what stained glass can do within and beyond cathedral walls. More than an artist biography, this book illuminates the essence of human nature and its balance of light and darkness. Growing up in Baltimore, young Rowan LeCompte was fascinated by colour and light, collecting coloured glass fragments that his older brother - Stuart, a scientist - had discarded from his lab at Johns Hopkins. A visit to the Washington National Cathedral at age 14 would prove transformative for LeCompte, who later described the day as his "second birthday." At age 15, LeCompte knew what he wanted to do for the rest of his life: combine his love of architecture and painting through the study of stained glass. Just a year later, he earned his first commission in the National Cathedral: the very place that forged his destiny. Rowan LeCompte's seven decades of work not only fulfilled his teen ambition beyond expectations - it changed the art of stained glass itself. Rowan LeCompte: Master of Stained Glass takes readers behind-the-scenes of LeCompte's process, hearing from the artist first-hand about his unexpected inspirations - and rejected ideas - for colour and design, and illustrating his work from the first 'cartoon' storyboards of windows, to painting the finishing touches on some of his best-known work. This beautiful 4-color photo art book tells of the complete history of Rowan's life, incorporating brilliant full-colour photos of many of the windows which highlight the details of the imagination and innovation of this modern artist working in an ancient medium. It was his single-minded determination to create works that make the world a more beautiful place that will mark Rowan LeCompte as a great master for years to come. Rowan LeCompte: Master of Stained Glass is a companion to Peter Swanson's two films about Rowan. One of these films, Let There Be Light, documented LeCompte's final commission for the Washington National Cathedral's centennial celebration. The film won the Best of Festival award at Washington, D.C.'s Independent Film Festival.

Sharing their insights in compelling interviews, 38 of today's Black ceramists demonstrate a diversity of studio practices and ways of using clay, together with more than 250 stunning photos of their work. Especially crucial in light of the times, this book helps disperse the fog of noninclusion. With the goal of giving the artists the recognition long overdue them, donald a clark and Chotsani Elaine Dean begin by grounding us in history and context. The authors take us through time, explaining recent important research from Drayton Hall in South Carolina, for example, and other work that has helped honor the contributions, presence, and experiences of African Americans in ceramic history in America. Bringing us to today, clark and Dean present for each of 38 contemporary ceramic artists an introduction, an interview with the artist, and photos highlighting some of their work. This important and necessary information, with its impact on the medium as a whole, is beautifully and engagingly presented to makers and craft appreciators alike.

Distinctive and extraordinary porcelains from the potteries of Limoges, France, are examined and illustrated in over 1,000 beautiful color photographs. These porcelain wares range from nineteenth century cake plates and teacups to striking vases and contemporary boxes. Included among the featured wares are items hand painted by famous decorating firms and others that were offered entirely without adornment. Also included are the manufacturers' marks and histories of many Limoges potteries, including Haviland & Co., ThA (c)odore Haviland, Pouyat, GuA (c)rin, Raynaud and Bernardaud, as well as an extensive bibliography and index. Current values are conveniently located in the captions. This book is a must for anyone with a love of porcelain and an appreciation for true artistry.

Illustrated with more than 300 photos, this guide covers everything you need to know to begin working with glass. Learn the materials and tools needed, types of glass, and successful techniques, focusing on the copper foil method. While emphasizing the beauty and creativity that's easy to enjoy about this craft, the book offers detailed step-by-step photo instructions for tracing, cutting, grinding, foiling, assembly, soldering, patina use, and more. The 33 projects, each rated in difficulty level, cover a wide range of styles and techniques. All of them beautifully showcase the gorgeous array of art glass available today, and they serve as useful additions to your everyday life or as exceptional gifts: a mobile, candy dish, cutlery holder, mirror frames, lamps, jewelry, and even clocks.

The stained glass windows of Holy Trinity Church at Long Melford in Suffolk are one of the glories of England's medieval heritage. Most stained glass from this period was destroyed in the Reformation, when the Tudor boy king Edward VI ordered religious imagery in churches to be destroyed, and later in the Civil War. The glass at Long Melford is a rare survival. Its mainly secular images show East Anglian dignitaries and their wives, some of them familiar names in the history of the Wars of the Roses, and provide an unparalleled record of 15th-century costumes, heraldry and hairstyles. The 36 line-drawn images based on the figures in the windows - with an introduction on the history of Long Melford and a short biography of each character - will provide hours of colouring entertainment for adults and children alike. Long Melford's stained glass is in urgent need of conservation. All proceeds from the sale of this book go to the restoration fund

Of the many media used by companies to bring attention to their products or services, none seem to have had the overall appeal of porcelain enamel. The process of creating porcelain signs is an art in itself, and the influx of new collectors in the market place attests to porcelain enamel advertising's beauty. Few collectibles are made with such long-lasting properties or have been found in such diversity. With hundreds of full color photographs, this new book will give you an idea of the beauty and diverse graphics that can be found in this very collectible area of Americana. Discover the powerful graphics that were so effective on these signs and see the wide range of advertisers who used the medium. The book is divided by manufacturing design with one chapter devoted to gasoline pump signs, a particularly popular area of collecting. Informative captions include a description, measurements, and the approximate age of the sign. This is simply the best illustrated guide to porcelain enamel advertising ever published, and an important reference to collectors and historians alike.