Medium-sized bowl with Guan glaze cg003

This type of medium-sized stoneware bowl with Guan "ice crackle or snowflake" glaze is a unique and unrepeatable piece. It also has a special shape that allows thicker areas of glaze. It is there that these kind of overlapping fish scales are created. They are formed within this transparent glaze and stand out against the stoneware of the piece, which is creamy white. This stoneware bowl is a work of high craftsmanship, of elaborate and careful design in all its details. 

Features

It is a flower shape medium-sized container, appropriately sized for use with dry flower arrangements. Or with non-liquid foods, such as fruits, nuts, french fries or chips for chopping and dipping in sauces, etc. The base is unglazed, it is something that is normal for handmade ceramic pieces. This is not a problem since the clay is vitrified and is practically waterproof. It is also polished so cannot affect the surface of the furniture if used properly.

Materials

This bowl is made of stoneware with chamotte, a kind of sand made with a refractory material that gives it more resistance and texture. Unlike the others cups, mugs and tumblers of different sizes, and the stoneware bowls, plates, etc. All made to be used with food found in this store. Porcelain with a normal thickness walls and stoneware are the materials used to manufacture the restaurant and home tableware. That makes them food safe, microwave and dishwasher safe, and resistant to sudden temperature changes. There are other pieces like porcelain bowls or salad bowls that also share these characteristics.

Porcelain is a harder material than stoneware, although it is more delicate to work with. It allows to make thinner walls and can be translucent. This makes it perfect for special pieces and lamps and not so much for everyday use ware as those of stoneware or porcelain with normal thickness walls.

There are also decorative pieces and others with mixed techniques in which I use other non-ceramic materials.

I prepare myself the glazes with high quality industrial raw materials. They have balanced formulas so that they melt properly on the piece in the final firing. Thus they are transformed into glass, they become in an inert material that does not be altered with the acids of some foods. Although this Guan glaze can be affected by sudden changes in temperature. For these Guan glazed bowls I cannot certify that they are liquid food safe and microwave and dishwasher safe. It is better to wash them by hand because of the type of crackle they have.

Colors

I have glazed this piece with a special transparent glaze called Guan or Kuan. It is a Chinese formula of about 800 years ago, which highlights what could be considered a defect in the glaze. But that becomes an effect of great beauty and delicacy. Flakes of translucent crystals that resemble fish scales or snowflakes form within the glaze, but the surface is smooth and shiny.

Below you can find other pieces that might interest you as well. I select them because they have similar form or color combinations to make pairs or sets of pieces.