This Sung Jar in Multi-Layered Ash & Cobalt Glaze is a perfect example of “letting the kiln be the paintbrush”. The Natural Ash Glaze is produced from a combination of hardwoods and pines. The wood ash floats into the upper atmosphere of the kiln before landing upon the pots within the kiln. Upon contact, the ash melts at the extremely high temperature of the pot will form its own running glaze that blends the pre-applied Cobalt, Yellow Matte and Ash glazes during the long firing process to create a drip effect. Due to the liquid nature of ash when melting, unique drips allow the pre-applied glazes to blend in unpredictable ways each and every firing. Stunning! Measuring 14”w x 25"h.
Please Note: What appear to be white spots on the surface are reflections from photo lighting.
Multi-Layer Glazes
While Ben III was in college in the 1990s, he was introduced to a spraying technique with an air-driven spray gun that some potters use to build up layers of glazes on the clay surface. With some experimenting, he was able to create a variety of finishes using accents of three or four different colors and using an ash glaze as a top coat to blend or bleach the underlying colors. Some finishes are a base of iron yellow with cobalt blue or copper green covered with orange to silver developing from the overlapping colors. Each pot is unique.
As a similar process to Natural Ash Glazes, Ben III frequently places these finishes in the wood kiln to accentuate the colors as well.
Ash glazes allow us to “let the kiln be the paintbrush” by relying on the wood-firing process as the glazing agent. Most pieces dedicated to Ash glazing are placed in the kiln with little to no glaze applied to the exterior. During the firing process, the wood is stirred occasionally in the firebox to give flight to the flakes of ash that are produced during the firing. Airborne flakes cling to the exposed areas of the pot and accumulate over time. As the kiln reaches 2300° Fahrenheit, the accumulated ashes begin to melt and form a natural glaze. When the wood-burning kiln is heated to over 2400°, the wood ash liquefies and runs down the side of the pot like honey. Ash may also be layered over other glazes. For example, when Ben was in college, he was introduced to a spraying technique using an air-driven spray gun that some potters use to build up layers of glazes on the clay surface. With some experimenting, he was able to create a variety of finishes using accents of 3 to 4 different colors. A glaze made from ash can be used as a top coat to blend or bleach the underlying colors. Some finishes are a base of an iron yellow with cobalt blue or copper green covering. Other colors of orange to silver can develop from the colors overlapping. No two pieces are exactly alike. Ben frequently places these in the wood kiln to accentuate the colors.
This piece is hand-signed by Ben Owen III with the year made (2025).