Ok, so this is a break from the normal Jingdezhen travel tales, but essential I feel!  As it happens I was sent an image of a piece of tableware with a cherry blossom design and at the time happened to be selecting a cherry blossom image for a Spring edition newsletter I was writing for an aged care facility.  The way things work out huh?  I know…so here’s one way you can learn how to make decorative tableware.

Anyway, so came about this Blossom Series of tableware that was an unforeseen success due to the wrong glazes being used.  The idea was to use a clear glaze over a copper rust glaze but instead of using the clear glaze I grabbed the White Glaze bucket instead and the results were fabulous.

The next test was on the marketplace, the people, the pottery addicts, the fans and the admirers who attend the annual Pottery Expo at Warrandyte, here in Melbourne.  Well… to keep it short – sold out!  Good thing I was able to repeat the success.

Here are a couple of links to two of the finished items: Cherry Blossom Bowl and Blossom Vessel.    You can view more in my Shop.

Here’s the drill:

1. Throw your pots
2. Trim/turn your pots to the desired shape
3. Carve in your desired pattern into the side of your pot and paint in your slip mix
4. When dry, scrape back the excess to reveal a lovely clean line
5. Bisque fire your pots to 1000 deg C
6. Glaze the pots as desired, then using a sharp tool, scratch out the ‘blossom’ petals
7. Fire to 1280 deg C oxidation, electric kiln or gas 1340 deg C
8. Voila!

Here’s the visual version:

So have a go, it’s easy enough, but time consuming.  It does require patience and a bit of testing in your own kiln, own glazes etc but it’s worth it.

To purchase the items, please visit my Shop to view more wonderful creations!