Burnishing (pottery)
Burnishing is a form of pottery treatment in which the surface of the pot is polished, using a hard smooth surface such as a wooden or bone spatula, smooth stones, plastic, or even glass bulbs, while it still is in a leathery 'green' state, i.e., before firing.[1]
How to Burnish
The process of burnishing pottery happens when the clay is in a “leather-hard” state. Leather-hard clay is partially dried clay that is in-between being malleable and being brittle. It is important to wet the piece before burnishing because scratch marks will be present on the surface if the clay is too dry.[2] The direction you rub the tool on the surface can also affect the pattern produced.[3] After firing, the surface is extremely shiny.[4] Burnishing gives pottery a reflective surface without having to use a ceramic glaze.[5] It is described as a low-tech way of finishing pottery because burnished pottery needs to be fired below 1832F (1000C), which is different from firing glaze.[5] Burnishing can also be a step towards preparing pottery for pit firing, saggar firing, or raku.[5]
This technique can be applied to concrete masonry, creating a polished finish.[6]
Burnishing can also be applied to wood, by rubbing two pieces together along the grain. Hard woods take the treatment best. Burnishing does not protect the wood like a varnish does, but does impart a glossy sheen.[7] As with pottery, it creates a surface that is moisture repellent, but not watertight, meaning it cannot be used for functional purposes like kitchen dishes.[5]
See also
- Black-burnished ware, a type of Romano-British ceramic
- Black-on-black ware, a pottery tradition developed by Puebloan Native American ceramic artists
- Northern Black Polished Ware of Iron Age India
References
- ^ Von Dassow, Sumi. "Burnishing Pottery: A Step by Step Guide". ceramicartsnetwork.org. The American Ceramic Society. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- ^ "Burnishing pottery". Arteologic. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
- ^ "Burnishing". www.sfu.ca. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
- ^ Peterson, Beth. "How to Burnish Pottery". The Spruce Crafts. The Spruce Crafts. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- ^ a b c d Lesley (2020-10-17). "Burnishing Clay – 3 Ways of Burnishing Pottery to Perfection". Pottery Tips by The Pottery Wheel. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
- ^ "Burnishing Versus Sealing Concrete". customconcreteprepandpolish.com. Custom Concrete Prep & Polish. 15 June 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- ^ Burton, Walter E. (1957). Burnishing Puts a Fine Finish on Wood or Metal (108 ed.). Popular Mechanics. p. 205.
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