Application of heat to clay transforms it into a ceramic, and thus the history and technical features of structures supplying that heat - kilns - are of considerable importance. The 14 chapters in this volume discuss ancient and historic kilns from the viewpoint of their excavation, their operational principles, and their contributions to an understanding of ceramic production within ancient economies.

Handbuilding with clay offers a unique opportunity to experiment, requiring few tools, and allowing intuition and imagination to come to the fore. In this overview of a fast-developing practice, artist Claire Loder explains time-honoured methods of handbuilding, as well as introducing the fascinating new approaches of contemporary ceramicists.

The basic techniques, from coiling and pinching to working with slabs, are explained with practical instructions and helpful accompanying images. Equipment, clay bodies and studio advice are thoroughly covered. Through the work of today's makers, the book then looks at new methods of building by hand, including mixed media work, sculptural methods, vessels and surface decoration, illuminating a wide variety of forms and styles.

Sculpting and Handbuilding is an essential guide for any ceramic artist or student wishing to learn the basics of handbuilding, or seeking inspiration to integrate and adapt conventional methods.

Ceramics and Modernity in Japan offers a set of critical perspectives on the creation, patronage, circulation, and preservation of ceramics during Japan's most dramatic period of modernization, the 1860s to 1960s. As in other parts of the world, ceramics in modern Japan developed along the three ontological trajectories of art, craft, and design. Yet, it is widely believed that no other modern nation was engaged with ceramics as much as Japan-a "potter's paradise"-in terms of creation, exhibition, and discourse. This book explores how Japanese ceramics came to achieve such a status and why they were such significant forms of cultural production. Its medium-specific focus encourages examination of issues regarding materials and practices unique to ceramics, including their distinct role throughout Japanese cultural history. Going beyond descriptive historical treatments of ceramics as the products of individuals or particular styles, the closely intertwined chapters also probe the relationship between ceramics and modernity, including the ways in which ceramics in Japan were related to their counterparts in Asia and Europe. Featuring contributions by leading international specialists, this book will be useful to students and scholars of art history, design, and Japanese studies.

In the collectibles world, this durable antique art form is a perfect example of the old "forest for the trees" maxim. Despite their bold designs and colors, only recently have collectors caught on to the value of these antiques of Americana. And the hunt is on. Once posted in every corner of the nation, this durable art form has yet to shed its luster. At the turn of the century, porcelain enamel signs became a standard form of advertising, and they maintained their dominance until the 1970s. Taken down and tucked away, these signs are starting to re-emerge, more valuable than ever. As you page through hundreds of rich color photographs of the signs, learn everything, from how they were made to who was making them, and how many hundreds of dollars they're worth today.

These thick-walled, asymmetrical, and freeform pieces are a visual feast, presented in a rich format with 563 color prints sure to delight anyone interested in Tiffin glass, fifties glass, art glass, or just wonderful examples of modern decorative arts. Valuable information including color and optics identification guides will make this book a hit among Tiffin glass collectors and help introduce many to the modern designs of this important American glass company. Some of the pieces look like Steuben and are of the same high quality. Others are easily mistaken for fifties Scandinavian glass because creative and talented Swedish glassmakers worked in Tiffin, Ohio at mid-century.

The transformation of the Venetian glass industry during the Renaissance was not only a technical phenomenon, but also a social one. In this volume, Patrick McCray examines the demand, production and distribution of glass and glassmaking technology during this period and evaluates several key topics, including the nature of Renaissance demand for certain luxury goods, the interaction between industry and government in the Renaissance, and technological change as a social process. McCray places in its broader economic and cultural context a craft and industry that has been traditionally viewed primarily through the surviving artefacts held in museum collections. McCray explores the social and economic context of glassmaking in Venice, from the guild and state level down to the workings of the individual glass house. He tracks the dissemination of Venetian-style glassmaking throughout Europe during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and its effects on Venice's glass industry. Integrating evidence from a wide variety of sources - written documents such as shop records and recipe books, pictorial representations of glass and glassmaking, and the careful physical and chemical analysis of glass pieces that have survived to the present - he examines the relation between consumer demand and technological change. In the process, he traces the organizational changes that signified a transition from an older and more traditional manner of 'artisan' manufacture to a modern, 'factory-style' manner of production.

A nostalgic glimpse at the glass counter jars, tins, boxes, and display racks which held American's favorite cookies, candies, and snack foods in America's country stores. These items are chronicled and illustrated in over 390 color photographs. Histories of over 75 companies which used them, covering over 100 year, from Adams Gum and Dixie Biscuit to Planter's Peanuts and Wise Potato Chips are provided along with detailed listings of the variations among their distribution jars and lids over the decades. Mergers among the snack food giants are recorded and mention is made of over 200 companies that profoundly affected every type of snack food from chewing gum to cookies. Major marketing and distribution trends and the dates associated with them are also revealed. Values for the counter jars and their variations are provided.

Whimsical Victorian novelties in clear and colored glass are displayed in over 590 beautiful color photos and over 80 black and white vintage advertisements and catalog images. Novelty candy containers, decanters, perfume bottles, paperweights, toothpick and match holders, shakers, butter dishes, condiment jars, celeries, and tableware in fanciful forms ranging from animals and humans to fruit, vegetables, personal apparel, furniture, and vehicles all have their place in this fascinating book. The text provides valuable information about the many companies that made these varied and amusing wares, including Fostoria Glass*TM, Hocking Glass*TM, Indiana Tumbler & Goblet*TM, Specialty Glass*TM, United States Glass*TM, and Wheeling Glass Letter & Novelty Company*TM, to name just a few. A bibliography and values in the captions are also provided.

Ceramics and the Museum interrogates the relationship between art-oriented ceramic practice and museum practice in Britain since 1970. Laura Breen examines the identity of ceramics as an art form, drawing on examples of work by artist-makers such as Edmund de Waal and Grayson Perry; addresses the impact of policy making on ceramic practice; traces the shift from object to project in ceramic practice and in the evolution of ceramic sculpture; explores how museums facilitated multisensory engagement with ceramic material and process, and analyses the exhibition as a text in itself. Proposing the notion that 'gestures of showing,' such as exhibitions and installation art, can be read as statements, she examines what they tell us about the identity of ceramics at particular moments in time. Highlighting the ways in which these gestures have constructed ceramics as a category of artistic practice, Breen argues that they reveal gaps between narrative and practice, which in turn can be used to deconstruct the art.

Create your own magical artefacts with this official craft book of projects from the Harry Potter films! From your very own Hogwarts acceptance letter to a golden snitch and a pop-up Goblet of Fire, this official book of craft projects from the Harry Potter films covers a whole range of magical artefacts that fans know and love. With five levels of difficult rating, and detailed instructions and step-by-step photographs for each project, you will soon be able to create an elder wand, a crystal ball, a time-turner and more! Organised into chapters, the book covers the journey to Hogwarts, recognisable books and potions from the classroom, magical objects from sports clubs and competitions, and of course, the dangerous restricted section of the library! This it the perfect book for Harry Potter fans looking to immerse themselves in the Wizarding World.

An essential guide to low firing and producing natural finishes without using glazes. This book explores the techniques of firing and finishing at low temperature without using glazes or electric kilns. Many ancient cultures and contemporary potters use methods of low firing, adding slips and burnishing pieces to create a more natural finish. As these techniques can be achieved without a kiln, for example using old dustbins, pits dug out of the earth or bonfires, it means that providing you have some outdoor space, the process can be done on a low budget. With many illustrations of beautiful work by contemporary makers for inspiration, this step-by-step guide to low firing and natural finishes is suitable for potters of all levels, including beginners. Get started in no time with practical approaches to burnishing, terra sigillata, smoke-firing, pit-firing, saggar firing and raku techniques.

This book beautifully illustrates the wide range of artistic innovation and techniques expressed in vitreous, or "hard," enamels on metal. More than 30 experienced enamelists share their specialized knowledge for using cloisonne, plique-A-jour, champleve, and basse-taille techniques on silver, gold, foils, and metal clay to make jewelry, vessels, portraits, and more. Works from an additional 55 artists are also displayed in over 350 color photographs. Their words and work will instruct and inspire beginners and encourage the next generation of metal workers to carry enameling to new heights.

Discover a world of creative and colourful jewellery making from the comfort of your own home. In this comprehensive guide to modern polymer clay techniques, artist and designer Heidi Helyard reveals the simple techniques that can be used to create one-off, contemporary jewellery pieces with minimal tools and equipment. Polymer clay is possibly one of the most accessible yet versatile art materials currently available. As readily accessible and easy to use as paint, you can make everything (and anything) with it, from sculptures and figurines, to artworks, decorations, homewares, and wearable jewellery. It's lightweight, flexible and strong. No special tools or equipment is required to cure it, it is relatively cheap, and you only need to start with the primary colours, plus black and white, to mix any colour you like. Polymer clay, which has been around for nearly 80 years, is currently finding itself popular amongst contemporary jewellery makers as the bright colours and sheer versatility of the material allows makers to create bold and graphic modern designs. The beauty of polymer clay is that it presents so many opportunities to explore colour combinations, patterns and texture. In this book you will learn 10 easy yet exciting techniques including slab and cane making, marbling and colour mixing, inlay techniques, printing onto clay, surface embellishments and more to create 20 unique jewellery pieces. The projects in this book vary in complexity, but are accessible to both novice and advanced makers alike. If you are a beginner, the extensive step-by-step photos and instructions will help you develop your polymer clay skills and complete the projects with confidence. As you build your skills and learn the techniques via the book, you will realise that you can combine techniques to create all-new results. The skills you learn in this book will open up a limitless world of further experimentation for you to discover. Just make, bake and wear!

Potters and Patrons in Edo Period Japan: Takatori Ware and the Kuroda Domain traces the development of one of Japan's best-documented ceramic types, from its beginnings around 1600 until the abolition of the domain system in 1871. Using historical records, archaeological material from early kilns and consumer sites, and the results of comparative chemical analysis, this study explores the operation of Takatori as the official ceramic workshop of the Kuroda, lords of one of the largest domains in Japan. Spanning cultural, aesthetic, economic and practical aspects, this book presents Takatori ware as an ideal archetype with which to compare developments in elite ceramics in other parts of Japan throughout the Edo period. In addition to its scholarly examination of the operation of a domain-sponsored ceramics workshop over more than 250 years, the book includes illustrations of examples from each of the seven Takatori workshop locations, including beautiful pieces that have never before appeared in print.

Paperweight collectors are usually familiar with the histories and products of the French manufacturers Clichy, Baccarat, and Saint Louis, but many know little about English makers from early times to the present day. This book, dedicated solely to the English paperweight makers and containing paperweight examples from the early nineteenth century to 1980, will fill that gap. Gathered together for the first time in one book are the world's largest collections of Bacchus paperweights, as well as many previously unknown and never before photographed paperweights from English glasshouses, all rivaling the best from the French makers. By comparing canes, colors, and styles with one of the hundreds of examples shown in this book, collectors should now be able to identify their own previously unknown weights, and the fake "1848" dated paperweights and inkwells can now be attributed to the right factories and time periods. With over 400 beautiful color photographs, detailed, fascinating descriptions of the weights, and a value guide, this book is a must for paperweight enthusiasts and collectors everywhere.

Now firmly established in the ceramics world, paperclay is a vital part of the modern clay artist and potter's repertoire. The workability of this material allows expressive freedom and imagination at every stage in the creative process, from wet to dry. Paperclay, made with new or recycled paper, is remarkable for its flexibility, unfired strength, and the ease with which it can be repaired, and allows the creation of beautiful finished forms.

Building on the immense success of her previous Ceramics Handbook Paper Clay, pioneering artist, researcher and teacher Rosette Gault (M.F.A.) explains how potters and clay sculptors can make, fire and use the material. In addition to the basics, she introduces more advanced techniques for building armatures, sculpting figures and making works for the wall.

Packed throughout with photographs of inspiring works by a new generation of paperclay artists, Paperclay: Art and Practice is an essential introduction to the medium.

The Imperial Glass Company produced a wide range of beautiful glassware in many patterns and forms from 1901 to 1984. A thorough text and over 540 beautiful photos explore the many patterns, unique items, art glass pieces, private mould objects, wares made for customers to alter or decorate, and the glassware made in non-production colors that were produced by this prolific firm. Among the patterns displayed are Washington, New Rochelle, Pillar Flute, Laced Edge, Empire, Hobnail, Monticello, Cathay, "Molly," and "Zippered Heart." The text provides a brief history of Imperial, discussions of the firm's patterns, wares, the companies that contracted with Imperial for special items, and a detailed bibliography. Prices for the wares displayed are found in the captions. This book will be a treasure for everyone who appreciates beautiful glassware.

Stunning to look at and exciting to make, stained glass work is perennially popular. Discover the rich and versatile craft of stained glass with this complete beginner's guide. Bestselling author and professional stained glass artist Lynette Wrigley shows you everything you need to know to make beautiful decorative pieces for the home. Thirty-one step-by-step projects range from copper foiled and leaded window panels to candle holders, mirror and picture frames, lightcatchers, and more. Expert methods for cutting and polishing, tracing patterns and soldering are explained with the novice in mind. Even if you've never cut a piece of glass before, Stained Glass Projects for Beginners will inspire you with the fascinating potential of stained glass.

Chinese ceramics are among the most significant and widely collected decorative arts produced anywhere in the world, with a history that spans millennia. Despite the saturation of Chinese ceramics in global culture-in English, the word "china" has become synonymous with "porcelain"-the function of these works and the meaning of their often richly decorated surfaces are not always readily apparent. This new installment in the successful How to Read series enlightens readers on Chinese ceramics of all kinds, using highlights from the outstanding collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art as a teaching tool. Accessible to a general audience and written by an expert on the subject, this book explains and interprets 40 masterworks of Chinese ceramics. The works represent a broad range of subject matter and type, from ancient earthenware to 20th-century porcelain, and from plates and bowls to vases and sculptural figures. Lavish illustrations showcase these stunning works and the decorations that adorn them, including symbolic scenes, flowers, and Buddhist and Chinese historical figures. Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Distributed by Yale University Press

This beautifully illustrated book will attract both beginners and advanced painters, and is written from the heart with unabashed enthusiasm. It shows step-by-step that anyone can paint if they really want to, and provides guidance every step of the way.The author covers all spheres of porcelain decoration, whether it's flowers or fruit, cats or landscapes, portraits or designs. She shows clearly how to work with many materials and techniques, including mineral oxides, gold and silver, raised paste, lustres, grounding and the kiln.Porcelain painting since 1970, her vast knowledge and practical experience is packed within the pages, with a subject for everyone to enjoy.

This is a comprehensive guide to the basic techniques and equipment: all you need to know, from tinning an edge, painting and etching to simple home cutting, delicate folk painting and frosted patterning. The beauty of decorative glass is celebrated in practical, inspirational designs such as herb jars, nightlights, poem vase, copper foil mirror and a stylish Alhambra picture frame. It features examples of the finest glasswork from contemporary craft artists and designers. It presents the definitive modern approach to a traditional craft, with every stage clearly illustrated with photographs in step-by-step instructions for 25 superb projects. It features over 300 photographs of the finished projects so you can what you are aiming at. The availability of easy-to-apply paints in an exciting range of colours means that glass decoration is within the reach of everyone, without the need for specialist equipment. By mastering a few simple skills, you can turn everyday objects into attractive pieces. Here you will find 25 practical projects to inspire you, presented in an easy-to-follow step-by-step format. A variety of basic techniques includes etching, painting, stained-glass construction, wirework and glass-cutting, which are then applied to decorate functional objects such as decorated herb jars and nightlights, and ornamental pieces such as a heraldic bottle and a candle bowl. Further inspiration is provided by the gallery section, in which leading craftspeople display their work, from stained-glass effect mirrors to gilded bowls. This comprehensive guide shows you how to create beautiful objects in a classic medium.

In this study, Emily Byrne Curtis explores as her subject lenses, spectacles, aventurine glass, and windows found in China from the sixteenth century. She traces their technological development back to the glassworks in Murano, Venice, and explores their significance in terms of Venice's commerce with China. Because glassware also figured among the gifts which three papal legates from the Vatican presented to the Kangxi and Yongzheng emperors, the author examines many documents from the archives in Rome and the Vatican; the study therefore touches, to an extent, on the history of the Catholic Church in China. Curtis also discusses in the volume some contemporary Chinese references and verses to European glassware, and in the case of enamel materials, she discloses the pronounced effect their use had upon the decor of Chinese porcelains.

The latest title in Stackpole's bestselling Basics series, this book presents a fun, growing trend in glass crafts. Teaches all the basics for getting started in glass fusing: what type of glass to use and how to cut it; how to work with a kiln from setup to project completion; how to make your own molds and glass accents. Instructions and full-size patterns for 18 projects, including bowls, vases, plates, wind chimes, candleholders and more. Illustrated with hundreds of step-by-step photos, a gallery of inspiring projects, and a list of glass fusing resources.

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.