Factors affecting crystal growth in high temperature ceramic glazes

Crystalline glazes were first developed commercially for the ceramic industry in France in the mid-nineteenth century. They became popular in Europe and America in the 1880s, and have been in use sporadically since then. With the developments in kiln technology over the past twenty years, there has been a renewed interest in them, especially within the studio pottery movement in the western world. This paper describes some factors that affect the growth of crystals in high-temperature glazes and examines ways to manipulate these to develop a desired technical and aesthetic quality. In particular, the paper examines the influence of the glaze recipe and the firing cycle.