Ben Owen III often gathers design ideas from the natural environment around him. This Melon Egg Vase reflects that organic influence. The vase is thrown on the potter's wheel and then altered into a melon-like shape to create a unique design.
Serendipitously, the wood ash floats upward before falling onto the clay during the kiln firing. This creates a completely individualistic piece. A unique texture is created when the piece is fired in the wood kiln over multiple days due to a thick ash accumulation from the natural wood-burning process. This Natural Ash glaze is complimented by Ben Owen III’s Copper Penny glaze. The Copper Penny glaze is applied to the surface of the piece prior to being placed inside the wood kiln. Unusual micro-crystals formed on the surface of the piece from the natural mineral in the clay interacting with the natural ash accumulation from the wood used to fire the kiln.
We hope that you enjoy your handmade, one-of-a-kind wood-fired microcrystalline vase! Measuring 6.25”w x 12”h.
Please Note: What appear to be white spots on the surface are reflections from photo lighting.
Natural Ash
The Natural Ash Glaze is produced by relying on the wood-firing process as the glazing agent. Most pieces dedicated to this glaze are placed in the kiln with little or no glaze applied to the exterior. During the firing process, the wood is occasionally stirred in the firebox to give flight to the flakes of ash produced during the firing. When these small flakes become airborne, they cling to the exposed areas of the pots and accumulate over a period of time. As the kiln reaches about 2300 degrees Fahrenheit, the wood ash will liquefy and begin to run down the side of the pots, as if one had poured honey on the vase.
The Copper Penny Glaze is influenced by the amount of iron in the clay as well as the formula of the glaze. The range of color is dependent on the atmosphere of the firing in the kiln. During the early stages of firing, at 1600° F, we purposely control the furnace to burn inefficiently creating carbon inside the kiln. The reaction of carbon, over a period of several hours, with the iron in the clay will create warm tones in the glaze and iridescent or opalescent qualities to the surface. The presence of wood ash coming in contact with the glaze accentuates the glaze with flashes of apple green and yellow tones to deeper brown shades on areas of the pot. The name copper penny was chosen after many customers, over the years, commented that it looked like the surface of a penny.
This piece is hand-signed by Ben Owen III with the year made (2022).