NBPick@AOL.COM on sun 15 oct 00
<< (One large group is supplying poorly made wares and it is hurting the
reputation of us all here.) >>
William is not exaggerating about the quality of the wares produced, I
only wish the (local) buying public's level of awareness was such that more
folks recognized the problem or that there was a required "Buyer Beware"
sign.
Separate from whether the base glaze he speaks of is safe, there are
several other issues that affect the quality, and the safety, of pottery from
this facility: 1) a consistantly cavalier attitude toward glaze making in
general, " oh, you don't have to worry if the measurements are off, it really
doesn't matter " and 2) toward firing. Over and under reduced, miserably over
or underfired, it matters minimally to those in charge, after all, they can
(and do) blame all the results on the vagaries of firing, as the glaze
problems are usually blamed on the potters. Further, it doesn't take a
magnifying glass to notice the crazing and cracking in "functional" ware at
the sales, ware that should have met the hammer brings in decent profit
several times a year.
I stopped throwing for over a year rather than go through the miseries of
glazing,firing,and smashing there, well, with the exception of a few pieces
that are an embarassment and are still sitting, packaged and unmailed, in my
home. Came to my senses recently and quit pouting. I'm throwing and
handbuilding again but am saving the bisqueware (several others are also)
till I can either go to William's, or till I can get my own kiln. In the
meantime, well, form needs a lot of work anyway and I have a relatively clear
consience.
B.
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