Ben xyz Posted August 2, 2023 Report Share Posted August 2, 2023 Have always liked Aldo Londi's ceramic work from the sixties, particularly his Rimini Blue series done for Bitossi (Italy). Any ideas on the glaze(s) and firing temps? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilly Posted August 2, 2023 Report Share Posted August 2, 2023 Do you own this lovely creature? You can get an idea of firing temperature by touching your tongue to the bare clay on his feet, If it is low-fired, it will suck all the moisture and try to stick itself to you. If it is hi-fired it will not, and it will stay wet. Rae Reich 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben xyz Posted August 3, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2023 I unfortunately do not own it, but appreciate the tip on finding out if something is low or high fired. Thanks Chilly. Londi's work is quite collectible and especially known for this Rimini blue color. Perhaps still being produced by Bitossi. The pieces work well in midcentury homes. Rae Reich 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akilpots Posted August 4, 2023 Report Share Posted August 4, 2023 don't know what the glaze is but i think you could probably get pretty close in recreating it doing progression line blends with cobalt in a glossy base. looks like these pieces have a white slip on top of the body clay also. good thing is you dont need much cobalt to make a very blue glaze...bad thing is cobalt is pretty expensive these days. Roberta12 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterH Posted August 4, 2023 Report Share Posted August 4, 2023 Example of cobalt concentration vs depth of colourCone 6 Ultramarine Cobalt Blue Glaze (Glossy Clear plus Cobalt Carbonate)https://www.thestudiomanager.com/posts/cone-6-ultramarine-cobalt-blue-glaze-glossy-clear-plus-cobalt-carbonateTst ... but it doesn't have the cyan-ish tinge. Roberta12 and Hulk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben xyz Posted August 4, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2023 Thanks Peter - the 1% cobalt is close. Agree with you that a little more green needs to be added to get a blue closer to cyan. A good starting place though. May throw the question over to Glazy. Perhaps an Italian potter knows the formulation. I have Londi's bio, which I haven't read yet - may provide a few clues. Will report back if I nail it. Hulk and PeterH 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hulk Posted August 4, 2023 Report Share Posted August 4, 2023 Looks like Cobalt Carbonate price has dropped recently! Petalite price hasn't... PeterH and Ben xyz 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted August 12, 2023 Report Share Posted August 12, 2023 Think the blue is from Copper Carbonate, maybe a smidgeon of Cobalt, just my opinion. Pres and Min 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted August 12, 2023 Report Share Posted August 12, 2023 11 hours ago, Babs said: Think the blue is from Copper Carbonate, maybe a smidgeon of Cobalt, just my opinion. +1 I think it's from copper carb in a high barium base glaze. Ben xyz, Callie Beller Diesel and Pres 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted August 17, 2023 Report Share Posted August 17, 2023 There was a glaze recipe, midfire giving similar finish, satin to gloss using petalite and copper carb, from memory. If it comes to me, I'll post it. Cone 07 to c03 Frit 3110 85% Bentonite 2.5% Petalite 12.5% Copper Carb 5.8 seems high Chrome oxide 0.2. Note says crazes on most normal bodies. Glaze needs to be well set up with CaChloride to avoid settling. Comes from Stan Eley's "Australian Fritted glazes" 1978 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted August 18, 2023 Report Share Posted August 18, 2023 Lookibg further at the horse, yhe buckles of the bridle and the green medallions, could it be underglaze pver all the horse with a clear glaze? Would think the copper glaze wouls affect those colours , or those areas were painted and covered before dipping in glaze. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly in AK Posted August 25, 2023 Report Share Posted August 25, 2023 (edited) It reminds me of a glaze known as “water blue” that uses copper carb. Some versions have strontium and lithium, some don’t. Edited August 25, 2023 by Kelly in AK Added information. Babs 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben xyz Posted August 26, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2023 I'm guessing there may be Underglaze stripes of yellow w/ the transparent blue on top, making areas green. Thanks for all the input - good suggestions! Perhaps the Bitossi people may share the formula (worth a try)...will contact. Didn't get much response from Glazy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted August 26, 2023 Report Share Posted August 26, 2023 Could always take a clear which contains either Lithium, petalite or Barium Carb and test tile them with varying abmounts of Copper Carb. What cone are you firing to? Ceramic Arts had a Wrights water blue of similar colour in its free midfire glaze download at one point. If you have a buff or dark clay body you can coat with a white slip to get the bright colour. Ben xyz 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben xyz Posted September 1, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2023 Thanks Babs, Min and Kelly - all good ideas. Will also run this by my glaze chemistry teacher as well. Btw, contacted Bitossi, the manufacturer of the late Aldo Londi's work; worth a try, but no surprise: "Thank you for your appreciation of our brand. I'm sorry, but formulas are absolutely company secrets! We are waiting for you to visit the Bitossi Archive Museum (www.fondazionevittorianobitossi.it) , which is open to the public on the occasion of the centenary of the manufacture." Elisabetta DainiSegreteria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted September 1, 2023 Report Share Posted September 1, 2023 I think it is copper too. In an alkaline base Marcia Ben xyz and Kelly in AK 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterH Posted September 2, 2023 Report Share Posted September 2, 2023 (edited) IIRC I've seen blue/green "copper" recipes with a little cobalt, and vice versa. Presumably it simplifies the final optimisation of the colour. PS loosely related ... which include a set of copper vs cobalt test tiles (for a specific base glaze) Edited September 2, 2023 by PeterH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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