Glossary

Although matt glazes are already crystal glazes with tiny matting crystals, a crystal glaze is generally understood to mean a glaze surface with enhanced large crystals, which are usually formed at a temperature between 1240 °C and 1300 °C.

 

The word "crystal glaze" is wrongly used by manufacturers of liquid glazes, mostly from American production. Since these are ceramic glazes for low firing (1050 °C), they do not have any crystalline components. These are melted glass splinters, which are placed on a glaze surface using a brush. Melting these pieces of glass produces waterfall- or crystal-like effects. These glazes are not considered here!

 

Our crystal glazes are fired at the final temperature with a holding time of 30 minutes - then the kiln is switched off. The size of the crystals depends on the cooling ramp (down to approx. 1000 °C) - the longer it takes, the larger the crystals become. If you do not have the option to specifically adjust the cooling curve in your kiln controller, the kiln should at least not be charged too loosely (it may also help to increase the filling density with thick kiln props, fragments of kiln batts etc.). Otherwise, too rapid cooling ramp (especially in a poorly insulated kiln) can result in no crystals at all being visible in the end product.