HIGH FIRED ENAMELLED COPPER BOWLS

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High firing powdered enamels onto copper at 950 °C results in unexpected effects through the interaction of the enamels with each other and often more importantly, with the copper itself. Subsequent layers of enamel can build up colours as they flow into and over each other.

Firing times, temperature, the shape of the bowl and the mixing of the enamels results in an infinite variety of effects. These effects can be changed by borrowing techniques from ceramicists such as sgraffito work and raku.

Most of my bowls will go through 10-12 firings, each taking between 1 and 4 minutes. They are then finished by exposing the copper on the rims and bases, before engraving them with a number and my initials.