Lustre

A comprehensive guide with recipes for making your own lustres and techniques for applying and firing them.

A lustre is a thin layer of metal which is deposited onto the surface of the pot during firing and which produces a lustrous surface. Lustres are very sought after, fabulous surfaces which can lure you in and keep you spellbound. They can be coloured as golds, coppers, reds and blues, or have a colourless sheen like mother of pearl.

Although lustre is a complex technique, this handbook explains and simplifies the process of creating various types of lustre for you to enjoy producing spectacular results. The book offers various recipes for making your own lustres and techniques for applying and firing, and shows you the results of Greg Daly’s extensive testing to point you in the right direction.

One of the most commonly used lustres today is a resin lustre (known as the ‘commercial’ lustre) which contains some dangerous carcinogens thinners. There is therefore an advantage to making your own lustre using more natural materials, which will also give you an infinite variety of effects.