Okay, let’s talk about something really cool in pottery! When potters make their pieces, they put them in a special oven called a kiln to heat them up. There are different temperatures for different types of pottery, and today we’re focusing on something called the salt glaze flashing stage, which happens when the kiln is at Cone 9.
Cone 9 is a way to describe a certain temperature. In Fahrenheit, it is about 2,300°F! That’s really, really hot! When the pottery reaches this temperature, something amazing happens. Potters add salt into the kiln, and the salt combines with the clay. This creates a beautiful glossy surface on the pot and can change colors in interesting ways because of the heat. This is what we call flashing—it makes our pottery look shiny and colorful!
Now, let’s think about some objects that would be about the same size after going through this hot process. Here are 7 examples of things that would be made at temperatures similar to our Cone 9:
- A medium-sized vase.
- A dinner plate.
- A cup for drinking.
- A saucer that goes under the cup.
- A small bowl for soup.
- A teapot for brewing tea.
- An ornament for decoration.
These objects can all come out of the kiln looking beautiful, thanks to the special treatment they got at that high temperature! Remember, pottery can be a fun and creative way to express yourself, and understanding how heat works is a huge part of it! Keep exploring and creating!
