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.
DescriptionBlue and purple crystalline glaze. The blue primary crystals have vivid structure displayed well in strong sunlight. The ground is semi-opaque set with tiny purple crystals.DetailsCode: CVP Year: 2024 Height: 245 mm Porcelain: RoyaleCVP. From Black Scout...
DescriptionBlue and purple crystalline with iron khaki. This porcelain body created a slightly different result with my blue and purple crystalline glaze. The ground is opaque and set with tiny purple crystals and larger blue secondaries. The primary crystals are...
DescriptionSparkling iron aventurine and golden crystalline glazes. This variant of my aventurine glaze has a different type of interaction. There is a transition from the sparkling crystals on the neck through to the gound of the zinc silicate glaze taking in darker...
DescriptionDark blue crystalline glaze. Primary crystals are isolated with tones varying from burgundy to deep blue. The ground is especially complex with several types of secondary. The base is tan set with tiny silver crystals appearing between the larger blue...
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.
DescriptionBlue and purple crystalline glaze. The blue primary crystals have vivid structure displayed well in strong sunlight. The ground is semi-opaque set with tiny purple crystals.DetailsCode: CVP Year: 2024 Height: 245 mm Porcelain: RoyaleCVP. From Black Scout...
DescriptionSparkling iron aventurine and golden crystalline glazes. This variant of my aventurine glaze has a different type of interaction. There is a transition from the sparkling crystals on the neck through to the gound of the zinc silicate glaze taking in darker...
DescriptionIron khaki and golden zinc silicate glazes. Golden zinc silicate glaze with large vivid primaries featuring darker centres. The ground is a complex array of small crystals floating on a glassy background with tones from pale tan through to deep amber. Set...
DescriptionGolden crystalline and iron aventurine. This is a runny and glassy version of my iron aventurine. Crystals at the top give way to a vivid glassy shoulder that interacts with the zinc silicate glaze througha complex pattern. The shoulder can look amber or...
What does it mean to be a potter? The question is difficult to answer. The rewards are many but it can't be denied that there is a great deal of the mundane. The essential tasks of sieving and grinding are my least favorite. Opening the kiln after a glaze firing a...
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...