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What are oxides

Oxide colours

Our glazes and clays are colored by the oxides and carbonates of various metals. Iron oxide is red, cobalt carbonate is lavender, copper carbonate is green.... These are what give the un-fired clay and glazes their colors. If we adjust the burners and damper of the kiln to fire the kiln with excess oxygen--enough to burn all the fuel, plus some--the metals will take on their most oxidized forms in the fired clay and glazes. This is called oxidation firing. Copper glazes will be green, and iron bearing clays will be orange, red, or brown. Electric kilns always fire in oxidation.

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