Waxwing Brown Cone 6 (Mastering Glazes)
Recipe
Notes
A glaze from the book "Mastering Cone 6 Glazes" by John Hesselberth and Ron Roy. While "Waterfall Brown" is the flashy, fluid star of the book, "Waxwing Brown" is often considered its more stable cousin. It is named after the Cedar Waxwing bird, mimicking the smooth, silky transition of browns and tans found in the bird’s plumage. Key Properties • Visual Appearance: Unlike the dramatic streaks of Waterfall Brown, Waxwing Brown is a satin-matte to semi-gloss. It is characterized by a smooth, buttery surface with "breaks" that move from a warm, medium brown to a soft tan or honey color on edges. • Surface Texture: It has a distinctively waxy feel to the touch (hence the name). It is less glassy than Waterfall Brown. • Mechanism: The interaction between the zinc and the iron creates a micro-crystalline surface that scatters light, resulting in that "satin" look. Likes (Pros) • Reliability: This is a "workhorse" glaze. It is much less temperamental than Waterfall Brown; it doesn't crawl easily, rarely pinholes, and is consistent across different kiln loads. • Stays Put: Because it isn't runny, you can glaze all the way down to the foot of a pot without worrying about it fusing the piece to your kiln shelf. • Tactile Quality: Potters and customers often love the "feel" of this glaze. It feels soft, making it a favorite for handheld functional items like mugs and bowls. • Excellent for Layering: Because it is stable and semi-opaque, it makes a good base for decorative accents. You can "dot" or "trail" other glazes over it, and they will hold their shape rather than melting into a blur. Dislikes (Cons) • Less "Exciting": It is a subtle glaze that rewards close inspection rather than grabbing attention from across the room. • Shows Fingerprints (Rarely): Some potters find that the satin-matte surface can occasionally show "metal marking" (scratches from silverware) or oils from fingers more easily than a high-gloss glaze. • Thickness Matters: While it doesn't run, if it is applied too thinly, it can look a bit "dry" or "parched." It needs a medium-heavy application to achieve that iconic waxy glow.
Description
From page 104 in Mastering Glazes book