Salt Glaze Pottery History
The technique of Salt Glazing pottery began in Germany around 1400.
Its popularity spread across Europe to England, making its way to Colonial America in the 1600’s.
Salt Glaze Pottery was the dominant domestic pottery in American from the 17th – 19th century.
Salt-glaze or salt glaze pottery is pottery, usually stoneware, with a glaze of glossy, translucent and slightly orange-peel-like texture which was formed by throwing common salt into the kiln during the higher temperature part of the firing process.
Sodium from the salt reacts with silica in the clay body to form a glassy coating of sodium silicate. The glaze may be colorless or may be colored various shades of brown (from iron oxide), blue (from cobalt oxide), or purple (from manganese oxide).
20th Century Salt Glaze Pottery
In the 20th century, Salty Glaze Pottery became popular in the Art Pottery community.
Manufacturers such as Moorcroft & Rookwood brought the art of Salt Glaze Pottery to new heights in the Art Deco and the years to follow.
In the latter part of the 20th century, salt glaze took a more rustic turn, and we see salt glaze pottery pieces in the “Log Cabin” and Modern Arts & Crafts décor of today.
