Ashes in ceramics
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Ashes in ceramics
What are Ashes in ceramics?
Ashes are the noncombustible remains of animal (bone) and vegetable matter used by the potter as a source of body and glaze fluxes. The commonest uses are of bone ash in bone china body and vegetable and wood ashes in stoneware ash glazes.
The ashes provide fluxing and other oxides. The main oxides involved are those of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and aluminium with silica and many trace oxides. Although the original matter is organic (that is, with carbon being the most important element and hydrogen,
Nitrogen and sulfur also involved) the potter is seeking the inorganic content. Thus from a large bulk of wood the potter collects a relatively small amount of ash.
The ash needs to be washed well to remove all unwanted compounds and firing takes care of the rest.
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| Sheri Ann Richerson |
