DIY Network

Glazing the Jar Bill Van Gilmer has thrown a garlic jar, lid and handle; now he assembles, glazes and fires the pieces. From "Throwing Clay" episode DTHC-206

Master potter Bill Van Gilder is making a multifunctional garlic jar, comprised of three parts. Now he's ready to glaze it.

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Figure A

Bill began the project by throwing a cylinder with a very thick rim. He then split the rim in half to form the gallery, or ledge, for the lid. To give the jar its rounded shape, he pushed out the belly. Next, he measured the opening of the jar and squeezed gently to make the opening 3-1/2" across (figure A).

He threw the lid, upside down, off a hump of clay. Starting with a doorknob shape, he opened it to form a shallow bowl. He measured the bowl, making sure it was 3-1/2" across before cutting the lid free from the hump.

When the bowl and lid were stiff-leather hard, they were placed on a clay slab and trimmed. Next, Bill scored the top of the lid and soaked the area with water. He rolled a small ball of clay and attached the smooth surface to the scored area on the lid before shaping the knob. Holes were cut in the jar with a cutting tool; using a scored guideline, he worked around the pot in a symmetrical fashion. When he completed the pattern, he cut an air hole in the base of the lid to release any trapped air in the clay.

1. When the pieces are bone dry, Bill loads them into the kiln for the bisque firing. The kiln will fire for 10 to 12 hours, reaching a temperature of 1750 degrees. After cooling for 24 hours, the pieces are ready to be glazed (figure B).

2. Bill chose two earthy-toned glaze colors, nutmeg and blue, for the jar and lid. Where the blue glaze crosses the nutmeg, the color becomes a more earthy-blue tone (figure C).

Figure B

Figure C

	Figure D
	Figure E

3. He places the jar and lid on a banding wheel and applies wax-resist emulsion to the bottom edge of the lid and the base of the jar. He also waxes the gallery where the lid will sit during the high-temperature firing (figure D.)

4. When the wax is dry (two to three minutes), Bill dips the lid in the nutmeg glaze for no more than three seconds. The jar is dipped two-thirds of the way down into the nutmeg glaze. The division of color on the jar is a subtle design trick that keeps the pot looking lively (figure E).

5. After making sure none of the holes are blocked with glaze, Bill fettles the lid and the gallery before making the second dip.

6. Next, he dips the lower third of the bowl in the blue glaze, overlapping the nutmeg glaze by approximately 1/2".

7. The lid will have a blue top surrounded by nutmeg glaze. Bill applies wax-resist emulsion to the rim of the lid before dipping the lid in the blue glaze.

8. He cleans the base of the jar before placing the pieces in the kiln for the high-temperature firing (figure F). The jar is fired with the lid in place to keep the pieces round. The kiln will fire for 10 to 12 hours, reaching a temperature of 2200 degrees. After cooling in the kiln for 24 hours, the jar is ready for use (figure G).

This jar can be used for many uses, including storing garlic, holding potpourri or as a candleholder (with the lid removed when the candles are lit) (figure H).

Figure F

Figure G

Figure H

RESOURCES :

Kilns
L & L Kilns
Website: www.hotkilns.com

Clay
Highwater Clays
Website: www.highwaterclays.com

Extruders
American Art Clay Co. Inc. (AMACO)
Website: www.amaco.com