Why is glaze fit an important issue in the finishing of ceramic forms?

Unit 7 Topic 17
Using Unity Formula

In functional pottery, particularly low-fired ware, crazing is considered by some to be unhygienic due to the accumulation of organic matter in the cracks of the glaze.

Glaze fit is an important issue for potters making functional ware as it is considered unhygienic to have a crazed glaze on the inside of a domestic pot. Low temperature clay / glaze systems such as maiolica are particularly effected by crazing as cracks in the white gaze may not only be unpleasant aesthetically but will also allow moisture to permeate the unvitrified body which causes even more crazing to occur sometimes years after the form was fired.

Low fired liquid containers, in which the clay body has not been sufficiently vitrified, will eventually leak if the glaze inside the form has crazed.

At stoneware temperatures crazing is sometimes seen as aesthetically pleasing. In such cases the crazing may be visually enhanced with a stain (e.g. crackle glazes, Chinese celedons). If fired to its correct maturing temperature the vitrified stoneware liquid container will not allow the permeation of moisture and therefore will not leak even though the glaze inside or out may be crazed.
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