Nerikome

Nerikome Plate by Linda Starr
slab built, 6 x 6 inches, cone 10 reduction
A few months ago I experimented by inlaying thin strips of B Mix clay into Black Mountain clay. I wasn't sure if this would work and didn't know this is an ancient technique called Nerikome. According to research done by Robin Hopper neriage involves blending two different clays an then throwing the clay on the wheel. Faith Rahill shows the process of nerikome which is blending different clays in hand building ceramic pieces. I did know incorporating two different clays together can sometimes be disastrous because one clay may shrink at a different rate than the other and the two clays might separate or repel one another.


Nerikome Bowl by Linda Starr
slab built, .5 x 7 x 7 inches, cone 10 reduction
The three pieces made it through the bisque just fine. Then came the next experiment with glazing the pieces. Many times if a clear or transparent glaze is placed over a dark clay with high iron content, the glaze will react with the iron in the clay and thus the glaze will turn an opaque gray. A year ago I attempted to counteract that effect with a glaze experiment.


Nerikome Plate by Linda Starr
slab built, 6 x 6 inches, cone 10 reduction
I tried using a non iron celadon glaze over a high iron content clay. Much to my delight I discovered that non iron celadon glaze will be nearly transparent over high iron content clay. I wanted to achieve this effect so the natural color of the two different clay bodies would be visible under the glaze. I was able to repeat this again but was not as successful even though I used the same clay and glaze. The celadon glaze should have been a little thinner and the firing temperature should have been a bit higher. All in all, though, this is a successful experiment in my quest to use two clay bodies together contrasting their different colors in one piece.