Legend of the First Copper Red Glazes
There are many variations of this legend, the legend of the discovery that copper, under the right conditions, can produce glorious red glazes in the kiln. However, this is the version I will tell to you...
Once upon a time during the Song dynasty in China, a potter loaded his kiln but decided not to begin the firing until the next morning. Unknown to him, during the night a family of mice entered the stacked but cold kiln during the night and settled down together around one of the pots in the middle of the stack.
The next morning the potter began the firing of the kiln, as usual. After it had completed the firing and had cooled, the potter opened it and began unloading the newly finished, glossy, glazed pots.
Deep in the kiln, one pot stood out from all the others. Whereas the others were lovely soft shades of blue-green, one pot glowed with a crimson color the potter had never seen before.
Knowing how the Emperor valued fine pottery, the potter sent the extraordinary vase to him. Upon seeing the astounding crimson vessel, the Emperor clapped his hands in astonishment and immediately ordered another one thousand crimson pots be sent to him.
The potter bowed his head in despair when the messenger told him of this order. He had no idea why this pot's glaze had turned such an unusual color. Determined to do his best, though, he shook himself and began work, preparing his best clay bodies and glaze materials, during the best woods for the kiln, and throwing his absolute best work. Time after time he filled and fired his kiln...time after time he opened it to find lovely pottery, but none of it the extraordinary, almost mystical crimson color.
The Emperor began sending demanding messages, and finally the potter was given a horrible ultimatum: deliver the crimson pots or bear the consequences! The potter, who had already been distraught, became frantic. He could not eat or sleep; he could only pace and rack his brain. How could that one pot have differed so much from all the others? What was different? Was it the clay? The glaze? The firing?
His latest efforts were already in the kiln, and the firing was nearing completion. With a cry of fearful desperation at the thought of failing the Emperor, the potter jumped into the blazing kiln and was instantly consumed by the roaring flames.
Struck with horror, the potter's helpers stood stunned. Eventually, they shook themselves and decided amongst themselves that it was only right to finish the firing as the old potter would have commanded them. So it came to pass that the kiln finished firing and cooled down. The potter's grieving family and helpers gathered together when it was time to open the kiln, in memory of the old craftsman.
As the light reached into the kiln and showed them the pottery within, they stood in dumbfounded amazement. Every single one of the pots glistened crimson red.
Was this really the way that copper red glazes were discovered? Almost certainly not. But it is true that achieving copper reds takes some finesse and timing as the kiln is brought into reduction at just the right time, with just the right copper-containing glaze.
Once upon a time during the Song dynasty in China, a potter loaded his kiln but decided not to begin the firing until the next morning. Unknown to him, during the night a family of mice entered the stacked but cold kiln during the night and settled down together around one of the pots in the middle of the stack.
The next morning the potter began the firing of the kiln, as usual. After it had completed the firing and had cooled, the potter opened it and began unloading the newly finished, glossy, glazed pots.
Deep in the kiln, one pot stood out from all the others. Whereas the others were lovely soft shades of blue-green, one pot glowed with a crimson color the potter had never seen before.
Knowing how the Emperor valued fine pottery, the potter sent the extraordinary vase to him. Upon seeing the astounding crimson vessel, the Emperor clapped his hands in astonishment and immediately ordered another one thousand crimson pots be sent to him.
The potter bowed his head in despair when the messenger told him of this order. He had no idea why this pot's glaze had turned such an unusual color. Determined to do his best, though, he shook himself and began work, preparing his best clay bodies and glaze materials, during the best woods for the kiln, and throwing his absolute best work. Time after time he filled and fired his kiln...time after time he opened it to find lovely pottery, but none of it the extraordinary, almost mystical crimson color.
The Emperor began sending demanding messages, and finally the potter was given a horrible ultimatum: deliver the crimson pots or bear the consequences! The potter, who had already been distraught, became frantic. He could not eat or sleep; he could only pace and rack his brain. How could that one pot have differed so much from all the others? What was different? Was it the clay? The glaze? The firing?
His latest efforts were already in the kiln, and the firing was nearing completion. With a cry of fearful desperation at the thought of failing the Emperor, the potter jumped into the blazing kiln and was instantly consumed by the roaring flames.
Struck with horror, the potter's helpers stood stunned. Eventually, they shook themselves and decided amongst themselves that it was only right to finish the firing as the old potter would have commanded them. So it came to pass that the kiln finished firing and cooled down. The potter's grieving family and helpers gathered together when it was time to open the kiln, in memory of the old craftsman.
As the light reached into the kiln and showed them the pottery within, they stood in dumbfounded amazement. Every single one of the pots glistened crimson red.
Was this really the way that copper red glazes were discovered? Almost certainly not. But it is true that achieving copper reds takes some finesse and timing as the kiln is brought into reduction at just the right time, with just the right copper-containing glaze.
