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Bassett, Sara Ware, 1872-1968

"The Story of Porcelain"

"
"Oh!" exclaimed Theo. "No, I don't think I have any more questions
about porcelain except to ask you how the glaze is put on the biscuit
ware."
"That certainly is an intelligent question, and one I shall be only
too happy to answer," Mr. Marwood said. "We could go down into the
dipping sheds if we had more time. But perhaps since there is not I
can tell you about them and it will do almost as well. To begin with,
these sheds have cement floors because the glaze, or slip, spatters
all about and dries upon them. It is therefore practically impossible
to keep wooden floors clean, and we do not wish our workmen to inhale
any more of the dried flint dust than is absolutely necessary."
"I remember hearing about that," Theo said.
"The glaze material is ground up while dry and very carefully sifted,"
went on Mr. Marwood. "Afterward it is mixed with water; colored, if a
tinted glaze is required; and then pumped into tanks where it is kept
well stirred. When ready the ware is dipped into this glaze and again
fired. This time, however, it is a more difficult matter to pack it
into the saggers since it must neither touch the sides of the sagger
nor come in contact with any other piece.


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