Crystalline by nature is comparitively expensive to produce. It is labour intensive, demands meticulous record keeping and exacting control of all materials and processes. It is one of the more challenging techniques a potter can undertake. Losses can be dramatic and heartbreaking and for this reason Crystalline is considered by most potters too difficult to undertake or pursue. Crystalline glazes first appeared in Australia in the 1920`s and only a few potters in Australia are attempting them. Crystalline glazes require careful application and ours are fired to 1300oC over 12 hours. At this temperature the crystal seeds are formed, zinc and silica combine to form zinc silicate. At this temperature the glaze is very fluid and has the tendency to flow from the pot. This fluidity necessitates the pot being attached to a pedestal and catch basin to contain any glaze runoff. Each pedestal is made to fit inside of a mil of each pot. Once peak temperature is reached, the kiln is rapidly cooled to a predetermined temperature where the crystals are grown, these temperatures are held and further manipulated within the growth window. This may take up to another 6 hours for crystal growth within the glaze matrix. After the glaze firing, the pot requires to be seperated from the pedestal and catch basin. This is achieved with a chisel and mallet, then followed by grinding and polishing. Crystals are formed at random, can take a myriad of shapes and are three dimensional in nature. In direct sunlight or strong light, spectacular effects created by the refraction of light bouncing off the crystals give each piece a three dimensional quality and depth. Crystalline is one of the most stunning techniques available.

Mountain Ash Pottery - Crystalline
David Massey has a science degree, and has been formulating his own crystalline glazes from raw materials for many years. Susan Massey has been hard at work creating shapes that will compliment the glazes. Like the gems that come from beneath the earths surface, the Crystalline process does not come easily and must be won by many hours of hard work and dedication.Like the gems that come from beneath the earth’s surface, the crystalline process does not come easily, and must be won by many hours of hard work and dedication.