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Words beginning with V
Variegation
Variegated or mottled glazes are those that do not have a homogeneous solid color or character (i.e. like a ceramic sink or toilet bowl). Variations in color and texture are highly prized by many ceramists. A variety of mechanisms are used to create the variegation. These include crystal growth, addition of speckling agents, phase separation, layering, and thickness variation of translucent glazes. Click here to read more.Vitreous, vitrification
'Vitrification' is a process. As clay is fired hotter and hotter, it reaches a point where, if cooled, it will produce ware of sufficient density and strength as to be useful for the intended purpose. The intended purpose may well require some porosity to gain another more important advantage (i.e. stability in the kiln, resistance to blistering). However 'vitreous' ware is usually functional, water proof, sanitary, hard, and strong. Ware that has fired dense and strong is also said to be 'mature'. To vitrify some clays requires that they be fired high enough to cause deformation, ware thus needs to be supported in setters or the cross section redesigned to be more stable.
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