Tower Of London Poppies

[Linpot]

I have now seen two Tower of London Poppies up close.  My friend bought me one for my birthday and I bought my Daughter one for Christmas.   They are clearly made in a hurry but the glaze on each is totally different.   Mine looks like glaze but the base looks painted and no visible sign of how it was supported in the kiln.   My daughters looks as if it's painted all over with curious brown bubbles around the edges.   I've never seen a glaze do that, I didn't like to try to pick it off in case it made matters worse.  Anyone know about the glazing?

[bciskepottery]

http://community.ceramicartsdaily.org/topic/6710-poppies-in-london/?hl=poppies

[Chilly]

I have now seen two Tower of London Poppies up close.  My friend bought me one for my birthday and I bought my Daughter one for Christmas.   They are clearly made in a hurry but the glaze on each is totally different.   Mine looks like glaze but the base looks painted and no visible sign of how it was supported in the kiln.   My daughters looks as if it's painted all over with curious brown bubbles around the edges.   I've never seen a glaze do that, I didn't like to try to pick it off in case it made matters worse.  Anyone know about the glazing?

 

I read somewhere that the glaze was specially made for them and it is called "poppy red", but haven't found any other (real) information.  I watched a few YouTube videos earlier this week and captured some screen-shots so I could take them with me to class yesterday and start making my own.  But the videos really didn't give too much information away.

 

One of the ladies at my class received her poppy last week, and wasn't impressed with it.  She couldn't describe what it was that she didn't like, just that it will be staying in it's box - which I think is such a shame.   Our tutor is still waiting for her poppy to arrive, I'm hoping that they'll both bring them in (on the same day) for us to have a look at.

 

Looking at the poppies at the Tower, it didn't look like they were different, as far as my mind recalls, they all looked the same.  Different shapes, but all the same colour.   Mine will be underglazed and bisqued, then clear glazed and fired to ^6.

 

Here's stage 1: 

 

More photos to follow.........

[Chilly]

Just found this, which mentions base coat and top coat - about a third of the way down:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2817086/How-make-888-246-china-poppies-fired-glaze-Meet-unsung-heroes-glorious-artwork-captivating-Britain-Tower-tribute-WWI-fallen.html 

 

And here is a photo (at the bottom) of them being dipped in ....... glaze?  http://www.johnson-tiles.com/blog/2014/11/johnson-tiles-helps-poppies-bloom-tower-london/

 

One jounalist said "There is a sharp smell of ceramic glaze as boxes of poppies are opened", but I can't find any more about the actual glazing process.

 

Potclays provided the materials, perhaps they might have more info.......

[PeterH]

From the earlier thread

http://community.ceramicartsdaily.org/topic/6710-poppies-in-london/page-2?do=findComment&comment=64648

I am unbelievably proud to say that all of the clay being used for the project is supplied by Potclays and is called Etruscan Red (Sanded) (159-1139S) it's a slightly sanded, red earthernware clay that is being fired right up to 1280C (very high given its recommended maturity is up to 1260-1270C).  The poppies have been finished in a number of ways but the bulk are being fired with a high temperature red glaze identified just for this project - Poppy Red.

 

 

 

BTW talk of a base coat and a top coat might suggest the use of two glazes, but the quote from Chilly's ref is:

Finally the flowers are dipped twice into a scarlet glaze – a base coat and a top coat – and placed back into the kiln where they are heated to 1,117C.