10 things you need to know about ceramics

&#;ADAM WAS CREATED FROM CLAY. THAT&#;S ALL I WANT TO SAY&#; &#; SERHII MAKHNO

Welcome to the club full of love, ceramics, and our common words. A thousand years ago, there was Adam. Adam was made from clay for the future of humanity. Several years ago, we did not hesitate to choose clay for our product design and opened our ceramic workshop. Now we cannot imagine our world without ceramic cups in the office, a zoomorphic collection of Dido in the garden and handmade heats.

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Together with our creative leader Serhii Makhno and the head of the ceramic workshop Oleksandr Yarovyj we finally set the record straight once and for all.

Can ceramics be recycled? Yes

Ceramic sherd can be turned into a chamotte crumb, which is widely used in construction work as a reinforcing filler. Chamotte is still used as a filler for clay, thereby improving its technological parameters for the manufacture of refractories, exterior ceramics, and landscape sculptures. Broken ceramic dishes can be used in the facade sheeting. For example, the Spanish ceramic artist and architect Antoni Gaudí used recycled ceramics in his creative work. But darling, even if you are not going to build a house and you don&#;t need ceramic dishes for the facade, always remember that ceramics can be welcomed at thrift stores.

Can ceramics go in the oven? Yes, but&#;

Ceramics was born from clay that has been heat-treated above 1 000°C, so it is not afraid to heat in an oven or microwave. It has only one enemy named thermal shocks which can appear if you put the ceramic item on an open fire or, for example, sharply cool or heat it. You understand that it is forbidden to throw down plates into an avalanche of your stormy emotions and feelings, you need to prepare ceramics for the waves of human warmth. And one more thing, if the ceramic item is made in the technique of metal reduction, then it cannot go in the oven.

Can ceramics go in the dishwasher? Yes, but&#;

It is possible but this option is not suitable for all ceramics. For example, it is not advisable to put handmade ceramics in the dishwasher. There are many factors, that we cannot control like corrosive soaps, soft water, too much detergent, very hot water, etc.

Can ceramics be fixed? Yes.

Ceramic restoration is possible, the sherd is sufficiently porous and has good adhesion for bonding. The Japanese even turned this process into a philosophy called Kintsugi. For the art of restoring ceramic products, they use lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum, a method similar to the maki-e technique. Broken dishes are glued together again, but flaws do not mask. A flaw in the dishes does not mean the end of life, but rather an important moment in history. Cracks and flaws are not hidden, but exalted. Just like human success is impossible without battles and losses, the true beauty of dishes is impossible without cracks.

Can ceramics conduct electricity? No.

Ceramics belongs to the group of dielectrics, substances that are not able to conduct electricity. Dielectrics are used as insulating material. Ceramics are widely used in various fields due to their low electrical conductivity.

Is ceramics harder than metals? Yes and no.

Ceramics are aluminosilicate from a mixture of different minerals and metals. It is very complicated to say what is harder &#; ceramics or metal, it all depends on the kind of metal. If we talk about chemical resistance, ceramics will be more resistant than all metals. If we take into account the molecular bonds of ceramics and metallurgy, then ceramics are more fragile to break.

When was ceramics first made?

Ceramics is considered one of the first man-made materials. Venus of Dolní Věstonice is the oldest ceramic artefact dating from 28,000 BCE during the late Paleolithic period and is now exhibited in the museum of Brno, Czech Republic. The first examples of pottery appeared in Eastern Asia several thousand years later. In the Xianrendong cave in China, fragments of pots dated to 18,000-17,000 BCE have been found. In Ukraine, clay began to be used 7.5 thousand years ago.

Where did ceramics originate?

The origin of ceramics as a cultural and social phenomenon can be considered during the Trypillian culture. It was the first time when the landmark system appeared, indicating high civilizational development. And it was the first time when people started to use hand-drawn ceramics, indicating high cultural development.

Why ceramics materials are brittle?

And why life is so brittle?

The brittleness of the materials depends on the crystal lattice. For example, glass is a single crystal lattice and it is considered to be more brittle than a polycrystalline ceramic lattice. If we will take a polycrystalline ceramic lattice and will fire it at high temperatures under high pressure, we will get a diamond that is stronger than iron or concrete.

How long will ceramics last?

Ceramics is the first artificial and the only eternal material in the world. We study the history of mankind on shards. It turns out that together we create the future. Each new sculpture can live forever, tell aliens about the Ukrainian traditions in the future and carry love through changes and oceans.

VISUALS &#; NIKITA UVAROV

For more information, please visit Zmdy Ceramics.

As a business owner, you probably take the integrity of your brand identity seriously &#; as well you should. If you&#;re running a retail shop and considering selling branded products or you&#;re the proprietor of an establishment that serves beverages, like a coffee shop, brewery taproom, or brewpub, you&#;ve probably wondered just what to put on your shelves or how to serve your customers a handcrafted coffee or a seasonal ale. 

When it comes to branded merchandise or serving mugs or steins that you use every day at your counter, it can be confusing and even overwhelming to choose the right ones. Keep reading for a guide to stoneware that aims to answer some common questions so you can make a choice you feel good about. 

What is Stoneware?

Is stoneware ceramic? Is all ceramic stoneware? If you&#;re not an artist who works in clay, it can be a little confusing. Ceramic is the general, more catch-all term for all types of pottery made with clay, including stoneware, porcelain, including bone china, and earthenware. 

Stoneware, porcelain, and earthenware all have a different look and feel as well as differing durability. These differences come from the types of clay used along with the temperature and duration of the kiln firing that each undergoes. 

Stoneware is kiln fired between and degrees and takes on a smooth, non-porous finish like stone, hence the name. Applying glaze is not necessary but the glassy surface makes mugs pretty and sanitary. Make sure any mug you buy is food safe and uses leadless glaze like Grey Fox Pottery.

How to Care for Stoneware

Stoneware is remarkably durable and easy to care for, making it an excellent choice for daily use in the kitchen or professional food service settings. Like all ceramic products, even stoneware will break if you drop it on a concrete floor, but with regular care, it could and should last long enough to be handed down as an heirloom. 

Is Stoneware Microwave Safe?

Yes! Stoneware can be used in the microwave. Stoneware heats evenly so it can withstand a few rounds in the microwave if you keep forgetting to drink your coffee before it gets cold. Like anything you put in the microwave, check the handle before you take it out, as the hot liquid might heat up the stoneware as well. 

How Should I Wash my Stoneware?

Stoneware itself is completely safe for the dishwasher. If you order a mug or stein with a cork pad or o-ring on the bottom, you may want to hand wash it to preserve the cork.

Will Stoneware Chip Easily?

Stoneware is very resistant to chipping and breaking. The glaze becomes part of the vessel during a kiln firing, so there is no chance of glaze chipping independently of the stoneware. If you order a custom stoneware mug or stein from Grey Fox Pottery, your logo medallion will also be rendered in clay and fired as part of the mug, so it will not break or chip away from the mug or stein.

How Would My Logo Look on Stoneware?

At Grey Fox Pottery, we use the scrimshaw engraving technique to turn your logo art into a clay medallion that becomes part of your custom stoneware mug, stein, or tankard. Take a look at some examples to see the range of what&#;s possible. From simple, bold lines to some pretty intricate and busy logos and everything you can envision in between, we can work with you to strike the perfect balance of art and brand identity. 

Your logo medallion will become a part of the stoneware and won&#;t wash away or fade over time. Rendering your logo in stoneware makes it substantial and tells your customers you&#;re here to stay.

Stoneware mugs and steins from Grey Fox Pottery can also be ordered in a wide variety of sizes and shapes to suit your style or to suit the beer you brew or the Americanos you craft. Mugs and steins are available in sizes to hold from ten to 24 ounces. 

Stoneware mugs can be further customized to suit your brand identity or style by choosing from glaze colors, finishes, and combinations that range from cheerful to serious or however you see your brand. Sixteen styles of beer steins are available &#; from a stoneware pint to the traditional Bavarian stein, whatever you need to suit your retail or service needs. Choose from twelve styles of stoneware mugs in varying sizes, some are perfect for drip coffee while others are just right for serving soup or a large cappuccino.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website bespoke ceramic parts.

Should I Order Custom Stoneware?