Did you know that the colours you put on ceramics are often quite different when finished? How did they do this?
Join us for a talk by Coalport China Museums’ Curator, Kate Cadman, as we take a look at the chemistry behind the colours on period pottery.
We take for granted the decoration on the ceramics we use every day, but these materials have a long history of experiment and development. Using original 19th century Coalport recipe books from the Ironbridge Gorge Museum’s archives, we will look at the technology – and hazards – behind the artistry.
Dangerous materials such as lead and arsenic were in daily use and caused illness and premature death in workers. The Coalport factory won a Gold Medal from the Society of Arts in 1820 for a lead-free glaze, which was a great advance.
The talk is free of charge as part of our Heritage Open Days programme, and will take place at 2pm on Thursday 15 September, at Coalport China Museum.
No booking is required.
