futurebird Posted January 27, 2015 Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 Among collectors of fine yixing teapots the "ring" test is cherished by some to identify "true" zuni yixing clay. It is unclear to me to what extent the zuni technology is about the composition of the clay, and to what extent it is about craftsmanship and firing. Many people say this clay is "extinct" and there will never be teapots like those of previous eras. Could this really be the case?I have tried banging on many pots and having the pot on a soft surface is a must. Isn't this a just a test of thickness and how high fired a pot is?I also make these kinds of teapots-- and I always wonder how to recreate the very best aspects of the craft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biglou13 Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 I've had many easterners give my cups a ring. I'm sure they were judging But just because some of my cups don't ring doesn't make them inferior. I've come to the conclusion at "the ring". Is a combination of vitrification and thinness followed by type of clay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bciskepottery Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 Ring is a sign of vitrification. Lack of ring may indicate underfiring or that there is an unseen flaw/crack in the ware. One craft fair I watched a customer take three similar pieces, place them on the ground, and ping them to hear the ring. She did this for multiple minutes before finally choosing one piece. To my tin ear, the ring sounded the same; but to her, she evidently discerned a difference that was important to her. In general, items that don't ring, don't make it to the shelf for sale. Some items by design do not seem to ring -- slab boxes, for example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 my bowls made of cone 6 little loafers stoneware ring. (unless somehow they have gotten cracked in use.) the ring is more or less musical depending on the size and shape of each bowl. i try for spherical bowl shapes not shallow open ones. they need to be held by the foot and tapped gently. it is a sound that makes me smile. i test bowls i might buy by trying to get them to ring. a dull "thunk" tells me it is broken somewhere even if i cannot find a crack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biglou13 Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 i have aome pieces rhat are sub 1% vitrification of same clay same firing the thicker doesnt ring as true sure there is difference in cracked and under vitrified but there is also a differnce between vitrified thiner and vitrified slightly thicker than....... i unfortunately do not love thin, from a design perspective Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 My cone 10 porcelain always rings unless its broken-I ring the bowls before wrapping them to test them for soundness. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSC Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 Yep i test my ware as it is unload from the kiln with a flick of the rim. The hidden crack is always given away by the lack of ring, i call them clankers and i put them in a pile so they can wait their appointment with mr. Hammer. I not only does thinkness of the wall effect the tone of the ring but so does shape, certain shapes have a clearer ring and hold the ring longer so they sing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 yes, the best sounds come from the ones i make with the walnut disc ribs and a flexible stainless outside rib like the avatar. taller ones get more bell-like. ever seen someone playing music with wineglasses containing various amounts of water? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carike1 Posted October 18, 2019 Report Share Posted October 18, 2019 If an unseen crack can cause a pot to go "thunk" instead of ring, then why do luminaries with many holes ring? It doesn't make sense to me. An unseen crack is like a hole. Also, should a pot with an unseen crack leak? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liambesaw Posted October 18, 2019 Report Share Posted October 18, 2019 22 minutes ago, Carike1 said: If an unseen crack can cause a pot to go "thunk" instead of ring, then why do luminaries with many holes ring? It doesn't make sense to me. An unseen crack is like a hole. Also, should a pot with an unseen crack leak? An unseen crack is not like a hole at all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted October 18, 2019 Report Share Posted October 18, 2019 23 minutes ago, Carike1 said: If an unseen crack can cause a pot to go "thunk" instead of ring, then why do luminaries with many holes ring? It doesn't make sense to me. An unseen crack is like a hole. Also, should a pot with an unseen crack leak? A hole is not the same as a crack. With holes, the clay part is a continuous structure, with nothing preventing the vibrations from moving through the piece when you strike it. Cracks will limit the movement of the vibrations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeU Posted October 19, 2019 Report Share Posted October 19, 2019 I can attest that a piece with an unseen-infinitesimal, really-crack can and does leak! I happen to have made several! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilly Posted October 21, 2019 Report Share Posted October 21, 2019 On 10/18/2019 at 6:27 PM, Carike1 said: If an unseen crack can cause a pot to go "thunk" instead of ring, then why do luminaries with many holes ring? It doesn't make sense to me. An unseen crack is like a hole. Also, should a pot with an unseen crack leak? Cracks usually end/start in a sharp point. Holes are smooth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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