Dark Cobalt Vase

Approximately 9" tall with a 2" opening

Brooks Bouwkamp is a potter who lives and works in Benton Harbor, Michigan.

"First a vessel is thrown on the potter’s wheel using porcelain clay. It is allowed to dry and then is fired to 1850 degrees F. After that I mix the glaze which consists of several main ingredients and a colorant. I then apply the glaze to the piece and fire it in the kiln for its final, special firing. This time the kiln is fired to 2350 degrees F. After the peak temperature is reached the kiln is allowed to cool to around 2000 degrees F. This temperature is maintained for three to six hours. During this holding cycle crystals form in the molten glaze and begin to grow. The longer the temperature is held the larger the crystals will grow. After the hold the kiln is allowed to cool naturally to room temperature, and then is unloaded. Due to this special firing process I can not control exactly where the crystals grow, but I can control their size, shape, and color. Each vessel ends up being a unique one of a kind piece."