Venicemud Posted November 2, 2014 Report Share Posted November 2, 2014 My husband of 48 years passed this morning and he is to be cremated. I would like to make mugs for family and close friends with a glaze including some of his ashes on the exterior. Any recommendations (with recipe)? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benzine Posted November 2, 2014 Report Share Posted November 2, 2014 I'm sorry for your loss. I've often wondered if anyone has tried including human ash (cremains) in a glaze before. What better way to preserve a piece of them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Venicemud Posted November 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2014 Yes, years ago someone posted (somewhere) about making a glaze for his dogs ashes using some of the ash in an exterior glaze for the urn. I mentioned this to my non ceramist husband and he was quite taken with the idea, said he wanted me to use some of his ashes on one of my ceramic pieces. He was always sure he was going first - guess he was right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted November 2, 2014 Report Share Posted November 2, 2014 Venicemud I am so sorry for your loss. Jeff Zamek has in his book What Every Potter Should Know a short chapter about his black Lab dog which he wanted to use some of his cremains in a glaze. I've never used the glaze so I cannot comment on how it is. Black Friday Glaze Cone 6/oxNepheline syenite 20Whiting 15EPK 18Ferro frit #3124 20Flint 325x 17Bone ash (Friday) 10Mason black stain #6600 12CMC 1% Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Venicemud Posted November 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2014 Oh thank you Min, that was the glaze I was half remembering. I'll make up a test batch as soon as all the "I can't believe this happened" emotion fades. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted November 2, 2014 Report Share Posted November 2, 2014 I am sorry to hear that Joan. As mentioned above, Jeff Zamek's Ash glaze is a good start. Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phill Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 I am sorry for your loss. I don't know if you have already attempted to do the glazing, but I just tried incorporating my 5-month-old niece's ashes on an outdoor planter for her parents. Not sure if it will work, but this is what I did: 1. Mixed her ashes with a little bit of the glaze I would be using on the pot. (I used a chun clear type glaze so I could see through it) 2. Brushed on the ash glaze as a decoration in nooks and crannies or as brushwork (you could add an iron or stain to it to make it pop...but then you won't know exactly what effect that person's ash has on the piece) 3. Dipped the pot in the glaze. I'm firing in a week. If I think about it I will make a post about it here to let people see the results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtomicAxe Posted December 8, 2014 Report Share Posted December 8, 2014 Human remains aren't the same as a wood ash so you will need to use a different formula based on the more calcium rich materials. The two times I made a glaze from cremations have been more buttery matt than glossy because of the chemical makeup of the remains. Mixed in 5% batches into most glazes shouldn't affect the glaze quality too much ... Here are a few to get you started. Black Friday Glaze Con 6/ox Nepheline syenite 270x 20 Whiting 15 EPK 18 Ferro frit #3124 20 Flint 325x 17 Bone ash (Friday) 10 Mason black stain #6600 12 CMC 1% Audra Loyal Eugene OR SU STANDING BEAR ^6 OX. (Bill Edwards) ------------------------------------------------------- Wollastonite10.00 Silica 15.00 EPK Kaolin 20.00 G-200 Potash Feldspar 20.00 Ferro 3134 30.00 Bone Ash (Human) 5.00 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Venicemud Posted December 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2014 Thanks Audra, I'll make up a test batch of the SU Standing Bear glaze today. Like Jeff Zamek's black lab, my husband was very fond of wearing black so I'll add 12% 6600 Mason stain. It has been an unpleasantly busy 6 weeks since my husband passed with little time for clay. I have managed to throw and bisque fire about 30 mugs, and the future looks clearer, so I'll test fire the three glazes I have decided to try very soon even tho my kiln will be largely empty. Not ecologically sound, but none of my friends have stuff to add to the load. Unless the results are totally embarrassing I'll post pictures, Joan Klotz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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