softglazed

Softglazed is a descriptor used in ceramics and pottery to describe a glaze or glaze surface that appears soft, diffused, and often satin or matte rather than highly glossy. The term denotes a qualitative effect rather than a fixed technical specification, and it is applied by critics, curators, and makers to characterize surfaces where color transitions are blended and reflections are subdued.

In practice, softglazed surfaces arise from glaze formulations and firing practices that favor gentle diffusion of color and a low to moderate sheen. Techniques may include layering glazes to encourage smooth blending, using matte or satin modifiers, or applying transparent overglazes that attenuate gloss. The result is a surface that feels velvety to the touch and reads with muted luminosity, allowing forms and color fields to coexist without sharp edge delineation.

Contextually, softglazed finishes are found in contemporary studio pottery and in descriptive cataloging of works where a restrained surface enhances form, texture, or glaze interaction. The term is not a formal category in glaze classification but a descriptive shorthand used to communicate a particular sensory effect to viewers and scholars.

See also: glaze, matte glaze, satin glaze, porcelain glaze, underglaze, overglaze.