Maiolica Firing Temps vs Current Practice

 I was just about to go to bed - the doggo needed to finish dinner - so I grabbed a new book that I just got in the mail (Thank you Ebay!) and opened it to a random page. 


Here's what I know: 

Traditionally low-fire ceramics are fired to a higher temperature for the bisque (first) firing and then a lower temperature for the glaze (second) firing.  

Bisque (First Firing)                                        Glaze (Second Firing)

     ~1915F                                                            ~1890F or  ~1830F


This is done primarily for two reasons: 

1)  if there is any extra organic materials it can burn off in the firing at a higher temperature leaving a cleaner clay which is less likely to off-gas and affect the glazes.  

2) because the higher temperature a piece is fired the higher the likelihood that the clay will warp.  Because of the first firing being higher, an artist would know if something was warped before they would spend the time and expense on glazing a piece.  (Side note: Clay typically fires within a range of temperatures depending on the type of clay that one is working with)


However, Maiolica fires the opposite.  Historically it would be fired COOLER in the Bisque Firing and HOTTER in the Glaze Firing 

Bisque (First Firing)                                         Glaze (Second Firing)

    ~1832F                                                            ~1904F


Hmmmm.....I'm going to have to look into this further! 

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