Demystifying Pottery Myths

Like anything that’s been around for thousands of years, the combination of science and art that is pottery has built up an enormous amount of folklore and superstitions. Jeff Zamek separates fact from fiction.



Like anything that’s been around for thousands of years, the combination of science and art that is pottery has built up an enormous amount of folklore and superstitions. “Without an understanding of how ceramic materials react in the firing process, a rote set of procedures was the best course to follow,” writes Jeff Zamek. “If an apprentice potter changed one variable, he risked losing a whole kiln load of pottery. The uncertainty of results often called for reassuring myths and dogma.”

Jeff tackled Pottery Myths in the March 2008 issue of PPP. In the article, he discusses myths related to economic considerations, the do-it-yourself mentality, frozen clays and glazes, slow drying, test kilns, pyrometric cones, and much, much more. A link to the full article is below.

What myths have you encountered in your pottery adventures? Do you follow any superstitious processes that you know are based on myth? Please share your experiences by posting a comment below.

Links

Did you enjoy this article? Click here to subscribe to Ceramic Industry Magazine.

Susan Sutton is Editor-in-Chief, Integrated Media of Ceramic Industry magazine. She can be reached at suttons@bnpmedia.com or (330) 336-4098.

Recent Articles by Susan Sutton

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Multimedia

Videos

Podcasts

Sapphire: An Extreme Performer

Ian Doggett of Goodfellow and CI Editor Susan Sutton discuss the benefits and opportunities provided by industrial sapphire.

More Podcasts

THE MAGAZINE

Ceramic Industry Magazine

CI October 2013 cover

2013 October

The 2013 October Ceramic Industry includes articles on Chinese refractories, synthetic sapphire, and more. Check it out today!

Table Of Contents Subscribe

THE CERAMIC INDUSTRY STORE

M:\General Shared\__AEC Store Katie Z\AEC Store\Images\Ceramics Industry\handbook of advanced ceramics.gif
Handbook of Advanced Ceramics Machining

Ceramics, with their unique properties and diverse applications, hold the potential to revolutionize many industries, including automotive and semiconductors.

More Products

Clear Seas Research

Clear Seas ResearchWith access to over one million professionals and more than 60 industry-specific publications,Clear Seas Research offers relevant insights from those who know your industry best. Let us customize a market research solution that exceeds your marketing goals.

Directories

CI Data Book July 2012

Ceramic Industry's Directories including Components, Equipment Digest, Services, Data Book & Buyers Guide, Materials Handbook and much more!

STAY CONNECTED

facebook_40px twitter_40px  youtube_40pxlinkedin_40