Glaze in clay is a glassy coating applied to ceramics.
What is Ceramic Glaze?
Ceramic glaze, often simply called glaze, is a layer applied to the surface of pottery and other ceramic objects. As described in the reference, glaze is fundamentally "a glassy coating on ceramics". This coating serves several important purposes, transforming a porous clay piece into a finished ceramic item.
Key Uses of Glaze
Applying glaze to a clay object serves both functional and aesthetic purposes:
- Decoration: Glazes come in a vast array of colors, textures, and finishes, allowing artists and manufacturers to decorate ceramics. They can be opaque, transparent, glossy, matte, smooth, or textured.
- Impermeability: One crucial functional use, as highlighted in the reference, is "to ensure the item is impermeable to liquids". Without glaze, fired clay (like earthenware) is often porous and would leak if used for holding liquids. Glazing creates a watertight seal.
- Durability and Hygiene: Glaze helps to "minimise the adherence of pollutants". A smooth, glassy surface is easier to clean than porous bisqueware, making glazed ceramics more hygienic and durable for everyday use, such as dinnerware or tiles.
Essentially, glaze is melted glass that bonds to the surface of fired clay during a second firing process (or sometimes a single firing, depending on the specific clay and glaze). It transforms the raw or bisqued clay body into a finished, functional, and often beautiful ceramic piece, such as a "Composite body, painted, and glazed bottle" as noted in the reference example.
Glazing is a fundamental step in ceramics production, changing the look, feel, and utility of clay objects.
