Have you ever tried using ceramic beads in your projects?
There are tons of unique handmade ceramic beads on the market today! It is hard to choose what to buy. I bet many of you like buying much more than you can use in your jewelry.
So how are these beads made?
Ceramic Bead Making Process
The ceramic bead-making process consists of three stages:
1. Greenware, the unfired clay
At this stage, an artist rolls out and mold the clay into the shapes.
Then the artist would “drill” a center hole in the bead using a dowel or skewer.
Wet clay needs to be left to air dry before moving onto the next stage in the process – cleaning and smoothing. The air-drying process can take several days.
2. Bisque, the fired clay
After the clay beads had dried, they are fired to the point where they are no longer clay and become ceramic. They may be fired twice, but not all ceramics require firing twice. For example, some porcelains are only fired once, at a very high temperature to give it a glass-like appearance. A firing cycle may take between 8 – 24 hours, depending on the clay used.
3. Glaze, the finishing process
Glazes are a mixture of ground, powdered ingredients that do not dissolve but are merely suspended in water by their nature. Think of it as a glass coating. It can be clear, transparent, or, with the addition of metal in several forms, in a rainbow of colors. The effects are limitless, depending on the formulation, application, and combinations.
A glaze is a product that can be hand-painted onto Bisque.
Once the glaze is dry, the ceramic beads need the second round of firing.
Egyptian Faience
Years ago, I was obsessed with museums. Everywhere I traveled, I needed to visit the local art museum, and the Egyptian collections were my favorite to view.
When I talk about glazed ceramic beads, the Eqyptian Faience comes to mind.
Egyptian faience is a ceramic material with a siliceous body and a brightly colored glaze. The objects covered with such glaze had a status equal to precious stones and metals. Some of the earliest faience objects made in Egypt were beads.
Ceramic Beads in Beaded Jewelry
Beadwork artists love using ceramic beads as focal points!
A collection of 5-7 beads made with the same theme in mind can be used for bracelets and necklaces.
When the ceramic beads are combined with intricate beadwork, they add an artisanal touch to the design.
It is totally up to an artist to dress ceramic beads with classic jewelry colors and finishes like gold and silver or decorate them with extraordinary and unusual beadwork details.
I am experimenting with using both kinds of approaches. What do you think of ceramic beads? Have you made any accessories with them?
