Friday, April 22, 2011

Our Singing Tiles

We began making reproduction tiles many, many years ago. Customers wanted a white clay body with a crackle glaze, so I manipulated the glaze to not "fit" the clay body perfectly. The crazing in the original tile occurred over many years, but we needed ours to happen as the tiles cooled coming out of the kiln. Crazing happens because the glaze contracts more than the clay body does, creating tension between the two.

We never realized what happy music it would make!! We've even had customers call us with concern, that there is "singing" coming from their newly arrived boxes of tiles. They usually settled down before they are shipped, but the water that the tiles absorb during the setting process will also start the symphony in motion.



So there you have it....we are tile musicians!

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7 Comments:

Blogger Loretta Fontaine (EcoHappy Blog) said...

Linda- Tinkly! How magical.

So nice to see you at Liz's and I can't wait to visit this singing studio of yours!

Loretta

April 23, 2011 at 3:55 AM  
Blogger Linda Ellett said...

Hi Loretta! I do love that sound after the kiln is opened!

Looking forward to having you and Liz come visit.....Henry is welcome too!!

April 23, 2011 at 9:21 AM  
Blogger Linda Starr said...

I always worry when I hear too many sounds, hoping it doesn't mean cracking pots. Interesting about the crackled surface you developed. I had a crackle glaze that shrunk too much and shattered off the clay body, it must be fine line on how much you want the glaze to contract to get the crackled surface.

April 27, 2011 at 7:22 AM  
Blogger Linda Ellett said...

Hi Linda - Thanks for visiting! The tingling is almost always the glaze fit - but is cases of great incompatibility in glaze/body fit it is possible to have the pot actually crack. When the glaze pops off that's called shivering, and it means that the glaze isn't contacting as much as the body. Both are easy to control, as long as you're formulating your own glazes.

Here's a great article about it -

http://digitalfire.com/4sight/troubleshooting/ceramic_troubleshooting_glaze_crazing_and_shivering.html

Good luck with that!!

April 27, 2011 at 8:53 AM  
Blogger Loretta Fontaine (EcoHappy Blog) said...

Linda- Back from Portland. Still remember our pinky promise!

Loretta

May 1, 2011 at 7:54 PM  
Anonymous Michele D. said...

You're a ceramic whisperer... Epic!

November 8, 2011 at 12:08 AM  
Blogger Linda Ellett said...

Oh - I love that "ceramic whisperer" title....I must use it sometime!!!
Thanks!

November 8, 2011 at 7:57 AM  

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