Pick a Piepenburg Patina Pot
Posted by JR on July 29th, 2006
These firey pots have a presence about them I love. Each with Raku Legend Robert Piepenburg’s Patina Glaze, which colorful flashes and metallic sand finish are hypnotic.
With much reluctance I have steered clear of this magnificent glaze beause the colors have a tendency to fade away. Like copper often does when it is re-oxidized, these pots fade and turn the same green as a cheap ring that stains your finger.
But while taking a Raku class from Raku Master Susan Phillips, she informed me of a way to hold onto these colors and prevent them from fading. We are currently doing experiments to make sure of their permanence; with much success so far. And the secret to keep these pots from fading is using the defloculant sodium silicate in a solution sprayed on and held at 100F for an hour. Please feel free to contact me for more information on this raku process.
April 4th, 2007 at 8:24 am
This is my second email. I got so exicited when I saw your work that I did not ask all of the questions I would like answered. Your work is beautiful and not at all what I have experienced with this glaze. If you would be willing to share any information about your firing technique it would be helpful to me. Things like clay body, firing temperature, reduction material, reduction time, if you use water do you spray of douse the pots, do you fire only under a full moon? Sorry, I get silly sometimes. Anything of help would be appreciated.
Another thought. Does the sodium silicate spray work to preserve all raque techniques?
Thank you again.
Pat Holm