| ART 186 - INTRO TO CERAMICS SOURCES OF COLOR IN GLAZE | 
| A BASE GLAZE is a glaze that contains sources of the three essential components of a glaze, (SILICA, FLUX AND ALUMINA) and that contains no added color. Accordingly, it will be white or clear when fired. To achieve colored glazes, first a satisfactory BASE GLAZE is found which "fits" the clay body being used, and then tests are run adding various blends of the following metallic oxide colorants: | 
| METALLIC OXIDE | % | TYPE OF FIRING | RESULTANT COLOR | 
| cobalt oxide | 1/2-2% | gas (reduction) | blue, blue-violet | 
| cobalt oxide | 1/2-3% | electric (oxidation) | blue, blue-violet | 
| iron oxide | 1/2-2% | gas (reduction) | jade green celadon | 
| iron oxide | 2-3% | gas (reduction) | iron yellows | 
| iron oxide | 3-4% | gas (reduction) | golden-orange | 
| iron oxide | 4-5% | gas (reduction) | brick red (khaki) | 
| iron oxide | 5-6% | gas (reduction) | brown-black (temmoku) | 
| iron oxide | 1/2-6% | electric (oxidation) | amber-greenish browns | 
| manganese dioxide | 5-10% | gas (reduction) | honey browns | 
| manganese dioxide | 5-10% | electric (oxidation) | purple, eggplant | 
| chrome oxide | 2-3% | gas (reduction) | greens | 
| chrome oxide | 2-3% | electric (oxidation) | browns, pinks, reds | 
| copper oxide | 2-3% | gas (reduction) | reds, purples | 
| copper oxide | 2-3% | electric (oxidation) | turquoise blues, greens | 
| vanadium pentoxide | 5-10% | gas (reduction) | grays | 
| vanadium pentoxide | 5-10% | electric (oxidation) | yellows | 
| These metallic oxides are added in the amounts indicated to suitable base glazes to achieve colored glazes. Note that the type of firing employed will have a great influence on the color achieved in the glaze. To read more about the effects of firing atmosphere on glaze color go to KILNS. Here is an example of a typical base glaze formula and some possible oxide additions: | 
| Feldspar | 48.9g | |
| Kaolin | 25.1g | |
| Dolomite | 22.4g | |
| Whiting | 3.6g | |
| 100.0g | ||
| add 1% cobalt oxide | 1.0g | glaze color is now blue | 
| OR add 3% chrome oxide | 3.0g | glaze color is now green | 
| OR add 1% cobalt oxide | 1.0g | |
| AND 3% chrome oxide | 3.0g | glaze color is now blue green | 
|   TEAPOT, JIM CONNEL, USA Glazed with a chrome oxide green glaze fired in a reduction atmosphere |   NORTHERN SUNG DYNASTY VASE Olive green glaze from iron oxide fired in an oxidizing atmosphere |