Learn About Pompeian Ash Glazes
Designed to imitate the wiggly patterns of traditional ash glazes, AMACO’s Pompeian Ash glaze series was developed in 2003 by master potter George Debikey. But instead of the standard firing technique that requires cone 10/11 temperatures in a reduction wood or gas kiln, these new glazes are formulated to fire to cone 5 in an oxidation atmosphere (an electric kiln).
This novel approach for producing ash glaze effects reduces firing costs, labor and eliminates the exposure to toxic gases associated with the use of ash in a reduction firing.
The PA Series has made it possible for potters, artists and teachers who usually work at lower temperatures, especially those who fire in an electric kiln, to achieve the beauty of their high fire reduction counterparts.
PA-1 Black
PA-30 Brown
PA-60 Tan
PA-40 Green
PA-20 Blue
PA-15 Buff
Application
Since these glazes flow during the firing, we recommend that you taper the application from several coats near the top to one coat towards the bottom of the piece, to give room for the glaze to run down.
Firing
Fire with a dry foot, on a kiln shelf that has been well coated with AMACO Kiln Shelf Wash. Use stilts or place over a refractory brick to catch any glaze that may overflow. With repeated use of these glazes, you will learn to what extent to taper down the application to eliminate overflow. (At that stage you may not have to take all these precautions—but it is always good to run a few fired tests before attempting to use any new glaze.)
These glazes will work well over all AMACO stoneware and porcelain clay bodies, as well as, other stoneware and porcelain bodies produced by other suppliers.
The PA Series glazes can be combined very easily with other series like The Potter’s Choice PC-Series, Sahara HF-Series, the Celebration HF-Series or any other AMACO cone 5 glaze.
The PA Series are best when applied next to these glazes vertically with a small overlap, so that one glaze will flow down into the other during the firing. (Overlapping a large area would impede the wiggle effect of the PA glazes and will result in a gloss combination of the glazes used.)
For ash glaze effects at Cone 06-05, use AMACO Magic Flow glazes!
