Autumn Splendor

Benaya works with guild artists to produce hand painted ceramic tiles using a glaze formula to avoid crazing as much as possible. The raw clay is formed into a bisque, the picture is then drawn onto it and the raised line work is applied by hand. The artists then apply the colours in layers and finally it is fired at 1000c(1800F) for 22 hours.

The construction of the clay and the paint/glaze material are very different and the varying temperatures cause minute amounts of shrinkage and expansion. This contributes to movement in these elements which results in “crazing”

Crazing can happen at different stages of the tile’s life, ranging from hours after being fired to a months or years later. Master craftspeople consider this type of product to be alive and liken crazing to tiles as wrinkles are to people.