Antique Chinese and Japanese Porcelain collector's help and info page

GLOSSARY

Firing in reducing atmosphere

Firing process that restricts the entry of air to the kiln, producing smoky combustion. The kiln is filled with carbon monoxide that absorbs the oxygen contained in the body and glaze. The ceramic body becomes grayish white while glazes with metallic oxide content turns to the colors of the oxides metallic state. For cobalt, blue, for iron a bluish black tone while copper turns brown.

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