A great mug in Ben III's Cobalt Blue Glaze and lined with his Copper Penny Glaze. A fun color combination with a visual texture contrast. The slow-cooling of the kiln creates the light purple micro-crystals along the surface. This mug will comfortably hold 10oz of liquid. Measuring 4.75”l x 3.25"w x 4.5”h.
Please Note: What appear to be white spots on the surface are reflections from photo lighting.
Cobalt Blue Glaze
The Cobalt Blue glaze has been used by the Owen family for over four generations. Early salt glaze wares made in the late 1800s were decorated with a cobalt blue glaze over the grey salt finish. Over the past 50 years, Ben Owen Pottery has made some cobalt-glazed pieces using a uniform coating of the glaze on the surface of the pots. Today, Ben uses a glaze similar to the older, original glaze. This newer Cobalt Blue is glossy and reveals a depth to the finish. Sometimes, the Cobalt Blue is used to accentuate pieces that are fired in the wood kiln. These are called multi-layered glazes.
Copper Penny Glaze
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 a 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 (2025).