Editing Pottery (section)

====Methods====
[[File:Pottery in China 2.jpg|thumb|Hand painting a vase.]]
* Painting has been used since early prehistoric times, and can be very elaborate. The painting is often applied to pottery that has been fired once, and may then be overlaid with a glaze afterwards. Many [[pigment]]s change colour when fired, and the painter must allow for this.
* [[Ceramic glaze|Glaze]]: Perhaps the most common form of decoration, that also serves as protection to the pottery, by being tougher and keeping liquid from penetrating the pottery. Glaze may be colourless, especially over painting, or coloured and opaque.
* Crystalline glaze: acharacterised by crystalline clusters of various shapes and colours embedded in a more uniform and opaque glaze. Produced by the slow cooling of the glost fire.
* [[Carving]]: Pottery vessels may be decorated by shallow carving of the clay body, typically with a knife or similar instrument used on the wheel. This is common in Chinese porcelain of the classic periods.
* [[Burnishing (pottery)|Burnishing]]: The surface of pottery wares may be ''burnished'' prior to firing by rubbing with a suitable instrument of wood, steel or stone to produce a polished finish that survives firing. It is possible to produce very highly polished wares when fine clays are used or when the polishing is carried out on wares that have been partially dried and contain little water, though wares in this condition are extremely fragile and the risk of breakage is high.
* [[Terra Sigillata]] is an ancient form of decorating ceramics that was first developed in Ancient Greece.
* [[Lithography]], also called litho, although the alternative names of [[Transfer-print|transfer print]] or "''decal''" are also common. These are used to apply designs to articles. The litho comprises three layers: the colour, or image, layer which comprises the decorative design; the cover coat, a clear protective layer, which may incorporate a low-melting glass; and the backing paper on which the design is printed by screen printing or lithography. There are various methods of transferring the design while removing the backing-paper, some of which are suited to machine application.
* Banding is the application by hand or by machine of a band of colour to the edge of a plate or cup. Also known as "lining", this operation is often carried out on a potter's wheel.
* [[Agateware]]: named after its resemblance to the mineral [[agate]], is produced by partially blending clays of differing colours. In Japan the term "''neriage''" is used, whilst in China, where such things have been made since at least the [[Tang dynasty]], they are called "''marbled''" wares.
* [[Wikt:engobe|Engobe]]: a [[clay slip]] is used to coat the surface of pottery, usually before firing. Its purpose is often decorative though it can also be used to mask undesirable features in the clay to which it is applied. The engobe may be applied by painting or by dipping to provide a uniform, smooth, coating. Such decoration is characteristic of [[slipware]]. For [[sgraffito]] decoration a layer of engobe is scratched through to reveal the underlying clay.
* Gold: Decoration with gold is used on some high quality ware. Different methods exist for its application, including:[[File:Sèvres - brunissage 13.jpg|thumb|Burnishing a plate's gold decoration]]
** ''Best gold'' – a suspension of gold powder in essential oils mixed with a flux and a mercury salt extended. This can be applied by a painting technique. From the kiln, the decoration is dull and requires burnishing to reveal the full colour
** ''Acid Gold'' – a form of gold decoration developed in the early 1860s at the English factory of [[Mintons Ltd]]. The glazed surface is etched with diluted [[hydrofluoric acid]] prior to application of the gold. The process demands great skill and is used for the decoration only of ware of the highest class.
** ''Bright Gold'' – consists of a solution of gold sulphoresinate together with other metal resonates and a flux. The name derives from the appearance of the decoration immediately after removal from the kiln as it requires no burnishing
** ''Mussel Gold'' – an old method of gold decoration. It was made by rubbing together gold leaf, sugar and salt, followed by washing to remove solubles
** [[Underglaze]] decoration is applied, by a number of techniques, onto ware before it is glazed; an example is [[Blue and white porcelain|blue and white wares]]. Can be applied by a number of techniques.
** [[In-glaze decoration]] is applied on the surface of the [[Ceramic glaze|glaze]] before the [[glost firing]].
** [[On-glaze decoration]] is applied on top of the already fired, glazed surface, and then fixed in a second firing at a relatively low temperature.