Crystalline glazes present one of the most difficult challenges to an ceramist. The process demands great skill, a good working knowledge of chemistry, and a great deal of testing to create crystalline glaze. I enjoy the challenge it represents. I hand throw all of my pots or hand build them. Each one is different and unique.
  The first crystal glazes where produced in Europe in 1850. The chemists of Royal Copenhagen, Severs, Royal Doulton, and Rookwood after much labor to produce crystal glazes they where abandoned due to the labor intensive aspect of production. Not many ceramist are willing to go through the demands of producing their own glaze. Each pot must be bisque fired then a catcher is attached to the bottom of each pot. This is to catch the glaze, that must flow in order to make the crystals. I must fire the pots in excess of twothousand three hundred degrees. The firing process takes two days. Then when the pots have completely cooled I use a rock saw to cut off the catchers and must smooth the bottom of the pots with a lapping plate. I enjoy opening the kiln because you can not control nature and each pot will be different, even if the same porcelain is used and the same glaze.
  My goal is to create treasures to be passed down from generation to generation.