Yuncheng Salt Cellar

When I last wrote about the progress of my salt cellar it did not have a name, since then I have come up with the most original name possible, 'Yuncheng Salt Cellar'. It felt apt to name the product after the area of which it took so much influence. I also finished making the actual cellar out of clay just hours before leaving my university for the winter holidays.

I then finished the product over the Christmas break as I fired the piece with my chosen glazes. Dipping each of the individual cellars in the glazes was difficult, as it was tough to get an even coat and therefore an even finish. I also did not want to overglaze my work as the glaze would not set properly.

Once I had applied the glaze to each of the pieces I then waited for a couple of weeks so they could be fired. The finished result is below with each of the separate salts stored in them.

I am very pleased with the outcome and proud of the colours that I have managed to achieve with the glazes available to me. The top right cellar is in turquoise, a glaze that I hadn't actually tested on its own, but my fellow students in my classes noticed that this colour really did suit my lake inspired palette, so for that assistance I owe them credit.

In my next blog I hope that I can share more on my metal project! Until then, make sure to season your food properly, this project really enlightened me to the importance of salt and its very complex history.

- Samuel Sant