Underglaze is a method of decorating ceramics developed in Northern China roughly 1500 years ago. Underglaze materials are applied to a ceramic surface before the piece is glazed in order to create durable, steadfast ornamentation sealed by the glazed layer.
The method of underglaze usually begins with the piece of pottery being dipped in finer clay, also known as slip, and “bisque-fired” to create a more secure surface, before colors created with metallic oxides are applied. Without this preparation, underglaze would be more likely to move and smear during firing in the kiln. Unfortunately due to the high temperatures that the underglaze has to survive, colored pigments were limited to mostly copper green, purple, cobalt blue and yellow.
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The earliest examples of underglaze were discovered on Chinese pottery pieces, found on Celedon pieces in 3rd century burial chambers in the Zhejiang and Jiangse areas. While the blue and white underglaze found on porcelain may be the most common modern example of underglaze, Iznik pottery is also a popular topic in the world of underglaze. Iznik pottery is a highly decorated set of ceramics that are made in Asia Minor and achieved great popularity in the late 16th century due mostly to the extreme beauty of the pieces.
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