CERAMIC MATERIALS IN THE MODERN AGE - PowerPoint Presentation

1. CERAMIC MATERIALS IN THE MODERN AGEA beginner’s guide - Decoding the terminology of ceramics made in Britain from the 17th century onwards Nick PanesEarthenwarePorcelainHard PasteSoft PastePearlwareCreamwareStonewareJasperwareBasaltCanewareSalt-Glazed StonewareHybrid Hard PasteBone ChinaDelftware

2. EarthenwaresTypically made from two types of clay (in total 50%), plus additives to assist the firing processtypically FlintCan be made from any coloured clay: red, buff, white etcFired in the kiln at typically 1000 C (unrefined cookwares would be lower) – chemical changes take place during the firing but the temperature is too low for the components to fuse (vitrify)Because it is porous, earthenware relies on glazes to keep out liquidsEarthenwares are not translucent, so you cannot see light through them when held to the light

3. Broken earthenware appears sandy or granular in structure, with delftware being the least refined (as above) and creamware / pearlware being somewhat finer.

4. EarthenwaresCreamwareDelftwarePearlware

5. Delftware (tin glazed earthenware)A course earthenware, originating in Europe, used in Britain since the early 17th C whichemploys high Calcium clays.Very fragile, so often thickly potted typically surviving pieces will have multiple rim chipsThe glaze is opaque, usually white. Used in early attempts to copy porcelain.Painting on the glaze requires a quick application, so painting is naïve / simpleEuropean tin glazed earthewares include Maioloica (from Italy), Faiance (from France),and Delft (from Holland). Dutch potters started the English delft industry in the 16th C.

6. London, c 1625 Bristol, c 1755

7. CreamwareRefined earthenware made from ball clay and flint with a cream coloured lead based glazeFirst made in the 1740s or 1750sPerfected, though not invented, by Josiah WedgwoodVery popular in the last quarter of the 18th C and first quarter of 19th CAlso called Queensware after Queen Charlotte ordered a set

8. 1740’s?1770s1800s

9. PearlwareRefined earthenware comprising china clay, ball clay, a small amount of china stone, and flint with a white lead based glaze tinged with blueInvented in the 1770s and survived at least until the 1830sEarly pearlware is naively painted in blue, later pearlware decoration became lighter blue and transfer printing was used.

10. 1780s 1820s

11. StonewaresComposed typically of ball clays, quarz and felsparFired at up to 1200 C, which causes some fusion (vitrification) of materialsThis results in a material stronger than earthenware, although still opaque unless in very thin spots on the pieceNumerous types of stonewares were used in the 18th and early 19th CStoneware glazes are usually made of felspar to allow higher firing temperatures than lead. Salt-glaze used salt which was thrown into the kiln during firing.

12. StonewaresSalt-glazed stonewareFelspathic stoneware Mason’s “Ironstone”JasperwareBasaltCaneware

13. PorcelainPorcelain was developed in China in the 10th centuryEnglish porcelain, if you discount experiments by John Dwight in the 1670s, wasfirst produced in Britain in the 1740sDuring the 18th century British firms tried a large number of recipesPorcelain is high fired at temperatures between 1250 C and 1450 CWhen fired the components vitrify, creating a strong ceramic body that is often translucent when held to the light. Porcelain which is particularly thick or which has been under-firedis not translucent.

14. The broken edge of a hard paste porcelain is very smooth and can almost appear crystalline English soft paste porcelain alsoappears smooth but close up is slightly more granularBoth materials use white clay although broken edges can darken with dirt ingress and staining

15. Hard Paste porcelainTrue hard paste porcelain, to the Chinese recipe, is made of two components,china clay (kaolin) and a felspathic rock, china stone (or Petunse)Chinese and many continental porcelains are hard paste. In Britain during the 18th century only Cookworthy (in Plymouth) and his successor Richard Champion (in Bristol)made hard paste porcelain of this type.Hard paste porcelain is usually fired with a felsphatic glaze in a single firing. This firing also includes the under-glaze blue where it is used.Hard paste firing temperatures are the highest of all domestic porcelains

16. Hard paste Plymouth porcelain Hard paste Bristol porcelain

17. Soft Paste porcelainEnglish porcelain factories in the 18th century did not have any Royal backing to fallback on, they were commercial ventures all trying to develop the most effective porcelain body. As a result several different recipes were tried:Bone-ash porcelain, comprised mainly of clay, calcined animal bones, flint, and sandSoapstone porcelains, comprised mainly of Soapstone rock, clay, lime and glass fritGlassy bodies, mainly comprised of flint glass, quartz, and claySome factories tried many different recipes

18. Bone-ash porcelainsBow DerbyLowestoft IsleworthLiverpool: Reid, Gilbody, Penningtons

19. Soapstone porcelainsLunds, Bristol Worcester VauxhallLiverpool: Chaffers, Christian Caughley

20. Glassy porcelainsChelsea Longton Hall….also early Derby and West Pans

21. Hybrid hard Paste porcelainIn the early 1780s, following the failure of Richard Champion’s Bristol porcelain factory, the patented recipes used to make hard paste porcelain became available to potters in Staffordshire.The very high (c 1400 degree) firing temperature was difficult and expensive to achieve, and the potters set about finding fluxes - chemicals which would enable the firing temperature to be lowered.They largely succeeded in this endeavour, and instead of firing the glaze with the body they introduced a second firing which allowed a lead glaze to be used. This group of porcelains are referred to as hybrid hard paste porcelains.

22. Early New Hall Wolfe (Factory Z)Chamberlains Worcester Miles Mason (and many more….)

23. Bone ChinaHaving become used to manufacturing with hybrid hard paste materials thepotters of Staffordshire continued experimentation. The idea of introducing animal bones into a hard paste mix was perfected by Spode late in the 18th century.This new ceramic body, strong and highly translucent, was Bone China. It was extremely successful and by about 1820 had been adopted by the Staffordshire Industry (including those who previously used hybrid hard paste) and was sold throughout the World.The high point of the British ceramic industry came as a result of Bone China, whichcan chart it’s development right back to Cookworthy’s hard paste development and early use of bone-ash by the Bow factory.

24. SpodeRoyal WorcesterMintonand many, many more……..

25. ConclusionsFrom the 18th C onwards, British manufacturers tried a number of materials which fell in and out of fashion, generally when better technology took over from the old.Delftware was in decline by the 1770s, Salt-glazed stoneware by the 1760s, Creamware and Pearlware by the 1840s although revived later.In porcelain, unlike the European makers who had Royal or aristocratic support, the new factories were entirely commercial ventures trying multiple recipes to bring success.Soft paste porcelains in the English tradition were in decline in the final quarter of the 18th century when hybrid hard pastes were introduced to combat the growth of creamware.The hybrids themselves fell out of favour when in the 1820s and 1830s almost the whole Staffordshire industry had changed over to Bone China. Bone China was a great success story,adopted in many parts of the world and fuelling the high point of Staffordshire production.Although changing over the years, stonewares have remained popular because of their strength. Whilst canewares , salt-glaze, felspathic stonewares and to an extent basalt fell out of favour, jasperwares and the ironstone recipes continue to this day.