Clay and Glaze 101


What Exactly is Glaze?

Ceramic glaze is basically glass melted onto a ceramic object. Because glaze needs to adhere to an often-vertical surface while not running off the piece, its component parts are ground into powder and mixed with water and binders so that it can be applied to ceramic pieces. Typical application methods include brushing, dipping, pouring, trailing, and spraying.

Technically speaking, glaze is silica (glass), a flux (melter), and a refractory, for durability and to keep it from running off a vertical surface.