Box of Secrets - Glazing

Careful consideration has gone into the glazing decisions for my Box of Secrets project. Each surface, texture and material choice has been approached with intention, balancing delicacy with depth.

Porcelain Paperclay Box

As planned, I applied a copper carbonate wash to the body of the porcelain paperclay box, strengthening the concentration in the more heavily textured areas. My hope is to create a strong sense of dimension — shadows gathering in the recesses — while still maintaining the quiet softness of newly fallen snow.

A transparent glaze was applied over the surface to unify and soften the effect. Wax resist was carefully painted onto the top and base, as well as the base of the lid where it meets the main body, ensuring clean joins and preserving function. The piece has now gone into a stoneware firing.

The decals and feet will be added after this firing, allowing me to build the layers gradually and thoughtfully.

Stoneware Box

The stoneware box has developed in a more layered, painterly way. Last week, I applied pink, brown and black slips to the main body before bisque firing, creating depth and tonal variation. The pink slip was also brushed onto the upper exposed areas and along the internal walls, introducing warmth within.

On the lid, I applied multiple coats of porcelain paperclay slip (made by me) to build up the rocky surface. Small touches of pink were added to suggest the sun catching snow at sunset — subtle, but important for atmosphere.

After bisque firing, wax resist was applied where needed, and both the box and lid were dipped in transparent glaze before being sent for stoneware firing.

For the final stage, I’ve purchased platinum lustre, which I plan to apply to the chairlift mechanism before a third and final firing. This metallic detail should introduce a quiet contrast — a subtle engineered element against the organic, snow-covered landscape.