Crystalline Ceramics
Crystalline glazed porcelain forms by Richard Bideau
Careful control of chemistry and firing conditions give rise to glazes that produce crystals during the firing cycle. Crystals are stunning with fantastic shapes that shimmer like holograms as light catches them. The possibilities are almost endless…
I have been exploring the crystalline process since 1997, becoming a full-time potter in 2009. My former career in chemical engineering, coupled with a lifelong association with pottery have given me the skills needed to combine art and science.
My work is sold through art galleries and exhibitions. I also have a selection of pieces available to buy directy directly.
Descriptionthrough to near whiteThis small piece features iron khaki and satin matt dark green. The primary crystals have vivid structure with pronounced growth rings. The ground is a silky matt grading from pale green at the top to white at the midpoint and then...
DescriptionGlittering crystals in the iron aventurine glaze sit upon a subtle zinc silicate glaze. Interaction between the two glazes has created a complex transition: the aventurine gives way to a fiery orange tan on the neck before the zinc silicate chemistry takes...
DescriptionIron red and satin matt green. The vivid iron red neck adds a dramatic finish to the subtle satin matt crystalline glaze. The ground grades from near-white on the shoulder to pale green at the foot. Etching has enhanced the vivid structure within the...
DescriptionThis small piece is the first to have a new variant of my etched green crystalline glaze. The primary crystals have vivid structure with pronounced growth rings. The ground is a silky matt grading from pale green at the top to almost white at the...
My next exhibition will be Potfest in the Park located in the beautiful grounds of Hutton-in-the-Forest, Cumbria. The show runs from Friday July26th to Sunday July 28th, 10 am to 4:30 pm each day.The kiln problems I had in November 2023 have stimulated a great...
The sensitivity of crystalline glazes to firing conditions is extreme. Recent modifications and repairs to my kiln changed my glazes dramatically and it has taken a lot of work to get my glazes working again. Several new glazes have come out of my tests and I'm...
Potfest 2023, held at Hutton-in-the-Forest, near Penrith, was a sucess. Many thanks to Matt Cox for organising and to my customers. The weather on the final day was particulary suitable for photography. Here are some images of my work and from around the show.Dramatic...
Some new crystalline glazes.
I'm pleased to announce that I will be exhibiting once again at Potfest in the Park. This year's event at Hutton-in-the-Forest, Cumbria will take place on July 28th, 29th and 30th.
Descriptionthrough to near whiteThis small piece features iron khaki and satin matt dark green. The primary crystals have vivid structure with pronounced growth rings. The ground is a silky matt grading from pale green at the top to white at the midpoint and then...
DescriptionThe primary crystals are exceptionally vivid with a complex hue that takes on blue, disky tan and pale green depending on the light. The secondaries are also complex, the ground grading from tan on the neck to pale cream on the shoulder, all the while set...
DescriptionGlittering crystals in the iron aventurine glaze sit upon a subtle zinc silicate glaze. Interaction between the two glazes has created a complex transition: the aventurine gives way to a fiery orange tan on the neck before the zinc silicate chemistry takes...
DescriptionIron khaki and gold - green crystalline glazes. This unusual variation of my gold and green crystalline glaze has been further treated after firing to enhance the structure in the primary crystals. The crystals are vivid varying in tone from pale gold to...
With crystalline effects, the glaze is only a part of the process. The type of clay body also exerts a powerful influence on the fired result. For this reason, and many more besides, each potter, working in different parts of the world, each with its own raw...
Time we may comprehend, 'tis but five days elder than ourselves. Thomas Browne, Religio Medici, 1643. If the Eiffel tower were now representing the world's age, the skin of paint on the pinnacle-knob at its summit would represent man's share of that age… Mark Twain,...
Crystalline glazed surfaces have complex structures that change in appearance under different lighting conditions. For this photography session, the weather offered the possibility of some dramatic conditions: it was warm and humid, the wind, so often a powerful force...
Potfest I have exhibited at the Penrith Potfest each year since 1997, first in the pens and from 2007 in the park. It is the focus of my potting year and the source of a great deal of inspiration for my work. Waiting for the show to open on the first morning there is...