Michaela C Posted July 16, 2020 Report Share Posted July 16, 2020 I just found a bunch of little vials full of colorants at a garage sale. The adult children of the ceramic artist were selling these and didn't know what they were or how to use them. The vials are clearly colorants but I'm not sure if they are similar to Mason stains. Is anyone familiar with Maxfield Dresden studios out of Glendale CA? There is also 3 glass sheets with some dark substance on them. The box says Maxfield's unfluxed gold. They were cheap but I have no clue if I can use them or what to do with them. Any input is appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callie Beller Diesel Posted July 16, 2020 Report Share Posted July 16, 2020 A picture is worth 1000 words. If you can, just take a shot with your phone camera, and if you need to resize it to fit the forum requirements, you can just email it to yourself. The box labeling could be anything if it's just a handwritten thing on a reused cardboard box. Stains are pretty distinct: usually vibrant in colour, but if they have any kind of number attached to them, that would tell us a lot. Michaela C 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaela C Posted July 16, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2020 Sorry it took a bunch of changing settings in my phone to get the size small enough to upload Callie Beller Diesel and Rae Reich 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liambesaw Posted July 16, 2020 Report Share Posted July 16, 2020 (edited) Looks like old lustres, I would do a lead test on them though because they used to use lead as a bonding flux instead of bismuth back in the day. Do not use these on food surfaces at all either way, and do not get on your skin. They contain extremely toxic metal salts. Edited July 16, 2020 by liambesaw Michaela C 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liambesaw Posted July 16, 2020 Report Share Posted July 16, 2020 Actually if they are indeed lustres, theyre so old that the metal salts have probably all degraded, but just in case, handle with care. Michaela C 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaela C Posted July 16, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2020 Ohhh thats good to know. Ill get a lead test for sure and see. There are also these other vials in the tub. The Willoughby says overglaze but the skinny vials say Imported German Dresden. Any idea what the unfluxed stuff on the glass might be? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liambesaw Posted July 16, 2020 Report Share Posted July 16, 2020 (edited) The stuff on the glass is likely lustre mixed with lavender oil but the oil has evaporated off. Dresden is known for their doll making industry, so those overglazes may be china paints for painting dolls. Edited July 16, 2020 by liambesaw Michaela C and Rae Reich 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Sweet Posted July 16, 2020 Report Share Posted July 16, 2020 Michaela- Actually the slim vials are China paints or enamel overglazes. There are a few different ways of working with them; either using oils or water as a medium. In your case, I would guess oils, since you have several glass plates with a dark residue. The glass is used to grind the pigments into the oil. Odds are that the colors are lead fluxed if they are over 10 years old. They fire in approximately the cone 014-016 range, and aren’t the most durable surface. They are what you find on painted China crockery. The gold or other metals are just what is discussed above, metallic lusters Paul Lewing (an inactive member) wrote “the Book” on it, and it can be found in the store link in the header. I would suggest sending him a personal message, if you’d like for him to respond. Regards, Fred you can tell him I referred you to him, if you choose that route. Callie Beller Diesel and Rae Reich 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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