A Discussion of Flameware
George J Chechopoulos · 2011
Flameware clay bodies and glazes will withstand sudden changes in temperature if properly designed for use in the oven and on stove-top burners. The common cone 10 stoneware clay bodies used by potters today will most likely fail (break) when subjected to thermal shock in the oven because tensile stresses in the ware will exceed the strength of the clay body and glaze. Having said that, I understand that there are stoneware clay bodies that are recommended for use in the oven but they all come with their own special precautionary use instructions that are usually more than the typical household cook would care to deal with on a daily basis. Also, stoneware clay bodies are never recommended for direct stove top use or quick changes of temperature. In order to properly understand the concept of Flameware pottery design and formulation, we first need to understand the physical changes that stoneware clay bodies undergo when fired in the kiln.