glass embedded in clay

**Claudia** · 03-07-2006, 03:13 PM

My question pertains to glass, too. I am wondering if I can embed pieces of glass into clay before firing...sort of like stained glass, so that you can still see through the glass after firing.

Does anyone know if I can do this, and if so, how?

**imported_aclift** · 03-22-2006, 11:14 AM

This can work! Although its going to take some experimentation. To learn more about this I would recommend reading the following article.
http://www.claystation.com/site_prof...even-Branfman/

Good luck,
Andy Clift :wink:

**plodder** · 03-23-2006, 12:58 PM

Hi again Claudia,
My goodness, you are so keen to experiment!

In my work I also teach (a little) about glass, and as Andy Clift states what you ask may be possible ( it's sometheing I've been considering myself but finding time is my problem).
I had a quick look at the link Andy suggests and I suspect that the guy there has a lot of empirically gained knowledge on the subject. I foresee a number of problems when experimenting with the glass, not least of which is the question "WHAT glass". Glass doesn't have just one form or make up, like clay bodies there are many different kinds of glass with different melting temperatures and (more importantly) coefficients of expansion; you may have to do a lot of research, perhaps there is a glass forum that could provide some answers ( if I ever get around to having a go myself I will post the results).
Good luck!
Andy

P.S. I like your quote from Henry Moore, he studied at the college at which I work, so I get to walk his path each day ( we sometimes jest with new students that a particular mark on the floor is where he dropped his chisel).

**Claudia** · 05-03-2006, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by plodder

Hi again Claudia,
My goodness, you are so keen to experiment!

LOL...I know. It gets me into trouble all the time! But at least I am having fun!

Originally Posted by plodder

In my work I also teach (a little) about glass, and as Andy Clift states what you ask may be possible ( it's sometheing I've been considering myself but finding time is my problem).
I had a quick look at the link Andy suggests and I suspect that the guy there has a lot of empirically gained knowledge on the subject. I foresee a number of problems when experimenting with the glass, not least of which is the question "WHAT glass". Glass doesn't have just one form or make up, like clay bodies there are many different kinds of glass with different melting temperatures and (more importantly) coefficients of expansion; you may have to do a lot of research, perhaps there is a glass forum that could provide some answers ( if I ever get around to having a go myself I will post the results).
Good luck!
Andy

P.S. I like your quote from Henry Moore, he studied at the college at which I work, so I get to walk his path each day ( we sometimes jest with new students that a particular mark on the floor is where he dropped his chisel).

Thanks. I will look around for a glass forum, that is a great idea. And, Henry Moore was fabulous. Which college are you at? I like that quote too, it makes me get up from my computer and quit arguing semantics, and instead get busy creatin'!

**Claudia** · 05-03-2006, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by aclift

This can work! Although its going to take some experimentation. To learn more about this I would recommend reading the following article.
http://www.claystation.com/site_prof...even-Branfman/

Good luck,
Andy Clift :wink:

Andy, thanks for the article, I printed it out for reference. It looks very helpful.

**plodder** · 05-05-2006, 12:51 PM

Hi, Plodder here again,
I forgot to mention that some nice results can be had combining glass and pottery in a very simple manner but it involves using a piece of work that is (essentially) a vessel (shallow dish, bowl etc.):
Using ordinary 'Cathedral' (coloured 'stained' glass) the bottom (interior) of a bisque fired vessel that has been dipped in glaze can be lined with broken shards; after a glaze firing the glass will have melted into a level pool ( edit, I have found some success with stoneware as well as earthenware). The glassy bottom will almost certainly craze as an earthenware firing doesn't have an annealing segment to avoid this but the results can be quite pleasing; sometimes colour is lost or altered (I've seen examples where red glass has become a cloudy white). If you like to experiment it’s worth a try!
PS.
I work at "The Leeds Collage of Art and Design" Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth attended during the 1920's (it was then known as "The Leeds School of Art").
Andy