slipware

Slipware is a type of decorated pottery in which a liquid clay mixture, or slip, is applied to the surface of the vessel. The slip is usually colored and is applied to an unfired or leather-hard body. Decoration can be created by painting with slip, trailing slip from a nozzle (slip-trailing), combing to produce linear textures, or incising through a slip layer (sgraffito) to reveal the underlying clay.

Historically, slip decoration has ancient roots and became especially prominent in English wares from the 17th to the 19th centuries, where regional varieties were produced for domestic use and trade. While best known from England, slip-decorated wares appeared in other parts of Europe and in colonial North America, where local clays were decorated with contrasting slips.

Technique and materials: Slip is applied to the surface of the clay while it is leather-hard. Depending on the piece, a glaze may be applied over the slip or the slip may remain as the final surface. The resulting contrasts, lines, and textures are characteristic of slipware. The firing temperature depends on the clay body and slip, typically low to mid-range for earthenware, or higher for stoneware when glaze is used.

Modern context: Slip decoration continues to be practiced by traditional potters and contemporary studio makers, valued for its tactile surface and rustic aesthetic. Museums and collectors document regional slipware traditions, while artists explore new patterns, colors, and surface effects within the technique.