Here’s today’s Ash Tenmoku and Nuka glazed Matcha Chawan from last week’s firing. I was fired to ∆10 (2345F) in reduction in my small kiln. It measures 3″ h. x 5-3/8″ and feels real nice in the hands. I never seem to tire of this combination, while it’s only two glazes, every piece fires differently and I’m learning to control the flow of the nuka a bit, by using ridges and marks put in the clay when the bowl is made to “collect” the Nuka as it flows. The pattern on this bowl is a result of collecting the nuka in deep throw rings. Please let me know what you think and/or let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks for visiting…
D. Michael Coffee, artist 
I love this! Absolutely a favorite!!!
Ceci, Many thanks for your supportive words, I appreciate it.
Ohhhhhhh, lovely!!!!!
Christy,
Many thanks…
exciting glaze combo! and the interior shot, what a nice finish. if i might ask, is the Nuka applied especially thick over tenmoku? thanks for the great visuals!
Hi Erik, I don’t mind you asking at all…Generally, I use a medium application of the tenmoku and medium+ application of the nuka. Having said this, I apply this combination mostly by feel and depending on the shape of the piece. If the piece has glaze catching details I will use a little more nuka.
thanks for the reply! quite an attractive foot on this bowl too.
Hello Michael,
I was curious how much you reduce your glazes toward the end of the firing or do you reduce throughout the firing.
Thank you Michael.
Hello Michael,
I was curious how much you reduce your glazes toward the end of the firing or if you reduce throughout the firing.
Thank you Michael.
Shiloh,
I start my reduce at 1560F and keep the kiln in reduction all the way to ∆10 (2345F). I posted my firing schedule here on my blog sometime ago and here’s the link: My Firing Schedule
Let me know if you have other questions you think I might be able to help with.
While I love this combo, and I am still somewhat surprised that I do not own one of these pieces yet. I guess I am wondering would there be ways to collect the nuka in various shapes other than rings around the piece?
Hi Adam,
Yes, this is what I’m working on, trying to get the Nuka to move and collect in all manner of ways, including different shapes. I currently have several large sculptural bowls with various surface patterns and shapes that will be fired soon. I will post images here, regardless of how they turn out.
Michael, this is a very beautiful glaze! Looking back to the recipe, I see that you describe it as white, though it looks bluer to me in these pictures, would you agree? I am trying to revise the recipe to use at cone 6 reduction. I thought I would sub 10% Gersley Borate and 25% Neph Sy for the Feldspar. Do you think this would be a good starting place, or you do have any suggestions?
Hello Eleanore,
This glaze is actually whiter that it seems in the photo. This is a very strange glaze when it comes to photographing it, it always comes out with a bluish cast, regardless of my lighting or camera settings. In fact, I cannot post images of pots with this glaze on them for sale online because of this, the buyer would likely be surprised.
Substituting the Gerstley Borate and Neph Sy for the Feldspar will help lower the firing temp. The glaze is likely to be a bit shinier and low in silica as the Neph Sy has less silica than Feldspar. Since Nuka type glazes are high in silica, which help create the creamy opaque glaze finish, my guess is the glaze will be a bit more transparent.
Good Luck…
This piece is stunning!
Thanks Steve, for your kind words and for taking the time to comment here.
This is a beautiful glaze combination. I love it!
Many thanks for your kind words Emilio…