Response By
Chris Snedden
Wilson Brothers Crock, 1850-1880
fired clay Gift of Gerald Fagan, 2000Response
Salt glazing is a German tradition, brought to New England, where wet rock salt is introduced into the chamber with the pots during firing. The sodium from the salt acts as a flux, reacting with the silica in the clay, forming a glaze. The decoration on these early pieces is done with “slip,” a liquid clay that has some colourant in it. I enjoy the fact that the potters of the past made their pots both beautiful and functional.
Chris Snedden is a clay artist, Director of Artistic Programming at the London Clay Art Centre, and teaches ceramics at Lambton College, in Sarnia. He has worked in every facet of the pottery business, from building electric kilns, teaching courses and workshops across the province, and producing gift ware and ceramic artwork for the international market.