23Aug

Unique fire-glazed ceramics

Bringing ceramic glaze making techniques from Europe to apply in Vietnam, Dong Gia ceramics of Pham Thi Thanh Mai and François Jarlov have turned ordinary soils in Vietnam into unique fire-glazed ceramics

Francois Jarlov is a cultural researcher, has a lot of knowledge about ceramics and has a long-standing love for Vietnam. His ceramic glaze is created by the chemical interaction between iron oxide and titanium plus heat, called fire-glazed, the color is created by the glaze, not by the color. The difference also depends on the kiln environment, firing temperature, firing time and chemical composition of the glaze.

The same type of clay glaze but different temperatures will produce a different glaze color, therefore, the glaze products are fired in the same kiln, the glaze on the lower side has a different color, the glaze on the higher side has a different color. Therefore, each product of Francois - Mai is a unique product, like a work of art. The type of ceramic fired by you reaches a firing temperature of up to 1,300oC, so the raw materials are solid in a tight structure, and when used for a long time, it will not chip or scratch easily, and when tapped lightly, you will hear a clear clinking sound.

Ceramic products with a fire-changing glaze layer, giving a variety of blue, brown, purple colors

A deep brown tea set

The diverse variations of glaze color, the rusticity but sophistication of fire-changing glaze products make each product like a work of art

Unlike industrial ceramic glazes, no matter what color you mix, you will know clearly what the color will be after firing. Meanwhile, fire-changing glaze is difficult to determine the color after completion.

For connoisseurs of ceramics, green jade glaze is a precious glaze that is very difficult to make. The jade glaze of your ceramic kiln has a very beautiful sky blue color. When made into a teapot, the jade glaze color makes the tea color more beautiful, and the tea taste more delicious.

A rare blue jade tea set

The jade glaze has a rare mother-of-pearl sheen

With the high-temperature firing technique, Mai and Francois were excited when the clay from Dong Thap Muoi used to make jade glaze produced very beautiful ceramics, especially with brown and purple colors. This shows that advanced, modern ceramic techniques can bring about unique products of the Mekong Delta.