Engobes are AP Certified Non-Toxic and dinnerware safe when clear glaze or another glaze that creates a sealed and chemically durable finish is applied.
Engobes are a great option for those who want the look of other clay bodies but don’t want to add another clay to their studio because of contamination or messy clean-up.
With only two coats, Engobe can transform a red clay body into white or a white clay body into black, allowing you to have the look of a different clay body every day of the week!
Apply to wet clay, greenware or bisque, and fire from cones 5-10.
Transform Your Surface
Engobes are a hybrid of slip, glaze and underglaze, used to coat your clay body to your preferred finish/colour and are often used for a variety of decorative techniques.
General Use
Stir well. Using a soft fan brush, apply 2-3 coats to wet clay, greenware or soft fired, cone 04 bisque (1940°F/1060°C). Allow the glaze to dry between each coat. If desired, apply 2-3 coats of another glaze overtop. Fire to preferred temperature; cone 5-10 (2167°F-2345°F / 1186°C-1285°C).
The Engobes will not stick to kiln shelves when 2 coats are applied, heavier application may cause the glaze to flux. Results can vary based on the kiln wash you have applied to your shelves. Testing is recommended.
Sgraffito
”To scratch” in Italian, sgraffito is produced by applying two layers of Engobes and 2-3 coats of another glaze and carving through the glaze to create depth and add contrast to your designs. An impactful and dramatic way to use Engobes in your studio.
Design Techniques
Engobes are incredibly stable and opaque in design work and work well in a variety of design techniques such as majolica silkscreening marbling, and wax resist. The integrity of your design will remain unchanged as engobes will not move or combine with surrounding colours.
Use on the Bottom of Your Ware
The engobes will not stick to kiln shelves when 2 coats are applied, heavier application may cause the glaze to flux. Results can vary based on the kiln wash you have applied to your shelves, so we suggest testing before use.
Blending & Intermixability
Mix Engobes to create something new; use brushstrokes to blend colours and create shading; layer them without concern of intermixing – great for Majolica – add thin lines and details with confidence as Engobes will NOT move.
Woodgrain Technique
Use Engobes to create different textures such as woodgrain.
Helpful Hints
- To prevent smearing of the specks, do not overbrush the Speckled Buff Engobe.
- The specks in Speckled Buff may be visible under a sheer glaze but may not show through when using an opaque glaze.
- Engobes fire matte. Apply clear glaze to intensify colour or for use on dinnerware.
- Engobes may be used on alternative clay bodies such as turning a brown clay body white.
- Engobes tend to influence the flow and results of the glaze used overtop.
- Engobes are intermixable.
- We recommended 2 coats of each glaze when used for glaze combinations (2x2x2)
- Engobes can be used in various design techniques such as sgraffito, silkscreening, majolica, wax resist, marbling, and more!
Usage Variations and FAQs
Do Engobes stick to the kiln shelves?
The engobes will not stick to kiln shelves when 2 coats are applied, heavier application may cause the glaze to flux. Results can vary based on the kiln wash you have applied to your shelves, so we suggest testing before use.
Are Engobes dinnerware safe?
Engobes have a similar texture to underglazes and require a clear glaze (matte or gloss) or a dinnerware safe glaze that creates a chemically durable seal.
