The Beauty Of Fire Glazing Ceramics In Vietnam

The origin of Vietnamese ceramic and the fire glazing technique 

The art of making ceramics in Vietnam has existed for a long time ago. There are various stories and tales about its origin. According to some popular stories, ceramics are described as mysterious and sacred. 

“Ceramics are what lie deep inside the soil, where they are protected by devil spirits. It needs extreme care before being exploited. After that, the sun will shine on them and turn them into beautiful ceramics once they reach the surface..."

(From Nghe co dat Viet, Information & Culture Publisher 2007) 

That legend has been spread out year by year to increase the thrilling feature as well as the value of this material. Pottery in Vietnam has proved to appear in the new Stone age of Hoa Binh - Bac Son culture (6000-7000 years ago). Nowadays, there are more than 10 traditional pottery villages throughout Vietnam, with most of them in the northern part of the country. Along its historical path from the beginning until today, the art of ceramics has continuously transformed with different techniques and patterns of significant characteristics from various cultures. 

Thanks to that diversity, more stunning ceramic products have been created and used widely. One of the most outstanding product lines of ceramics is fire glazing ceramics - a kind of ceramic using a unique technique to create magical and elegant patterns on the surface.   

Fire glazing ceramics capture the essence of handcrafted pottery art:

Fire glazing ceramics are glazed ceramics with a glossy layer made of 3 main factors: iron oxide, titan, and temperature to create the dancing patterns just like a burning flame. Depending on the technique of the artisans and the fire's temperature when baking, the colors and textures of the products will gradually transform in each completed product. Because of that, fire glazing ceramics are considered the elite in Vietnamese pottery art portrayed through the extreme care in work and creativity of the experienced artisans. 

Through that, each color and pattern will be naturally distinct from the other. In specific, two fire glazing items can have similar colors, but they will never be the same, just like there are no identical fires. Authenticity and uniqueness are what make fire glazing ceramics favored by most people and are suitable to use for various purposes.  

Intending to make high-quality fire glazing products, there are irreplaceable steps that need to be done with care. The brilliant work of experienced artisans is what comes first. Then, a unique baking stage using over-1300 Celsius degrees temperature will take place to remove the impurities in the clay. During the production, every step requires extreme meticulousness in detail to create a glossy layer with twisted lines on the surface. In the end, a sophisticated fire glazing cup of tea or teapot will be brought to life and ready for you to use. 

More than that, high temperature is the priority in creating high-quality fire glazing ceramics. Therefore, besides satisfying your standard of aesthetic features, this material contains no impurities or iron substances so it is safe for health during usage. 

Fire glazing ceramics contributes to increasing the traditional pottery art's popularity 

In fact, the fire glazing technique appeared in the 19th century but has been lost gradually due to the rolling circle of time and incidents in history. Because of that, many traditional pottery villages in Vietnam have started applying this technique to regenerate a graceful ceramic glazing specialty; as well as increase the awareness of ceramic art among more and more people with beautiful products. 

Applications of fire glazing ceramics in daily usage

Generally, ceramics are used for almost every aspect of daily lives, especially in the kitchen, living room, or for feng shui improvements. However, lots of people are also using fire glazing ceramic items for decorative, displayed, and collective purposes, especially with products in unique colors and patterns. 

Thanks to the magnificent beauty, fire glazing ceramics are stunning in a distinctive way in comparison with other ceramic items. The rustic, unsophisticated clay is now becoming more precious and outstanding as an independent item and helpful product in your family. In other words, fire glazing ceramics are the interfering of meticulous quintessence in handcrafted art and creative renovation from traditional foundations. Not only is it the pride of Vietnamese people, but also what foreign visitors are fond of when they come to this S-shaped land. 

Discover many unique fire glazed ceramics made entirely by skillful Vietnamese artisans HERE