THE PRODUCTS OF CLAY AND FIRE 



form a line at the top that binds all the plates together. 

 By this method of placing, two small marks are left 

 on the edge of each plate where it comes in contact 

 with the saddles, and a third mark where it touches 

 the projection on the thimble. 



These are only two of the many methods of "plac- 

 ing" ware whose shape permits of several pieces being 

 placed in the same sagger. The very best results in 

 glazing are obtained by placing each piece of ware in 

 a sagger by itself, but of course only the most expensive 

 ware is fired in this way, and even in such sets the flat 

 pieces are fired together. 



Firing the glaze-kiln is a somewhat shorter process 

 than that of firing the biscuit-oven, as a rule. The 

 temperature is not raised to quite the same degree, 

 as otherwise the body of the ware might be affected. 

 The time required may be said roughly to be from 

 sixteen to twenty-four hours, and the temperature 

 attained about 1900 F. The quicker the oven can 

 be brought to the required heat the better and brighter 

 will be the glaze. 



DECORATING THE WARE 



We have seen that certain kinds of decorations 

 and coloring are done, while the ware is still in the 

 clay state, by the use of colored clays and colored slips. 

 But the two periods in the manufacture for doing 

 most of the decorating are after the ware has been 

 fired in the biscuit-oven before the glaze is applied, 

 and after the final glazing has been done. The first 



