We do pay special attention to our colours. Incoming inspections of raw materials are done for every batch received. There are colour references on site to ensure we dispatch our goods with right and consistence with minimal colour variation. However, unlike floor tile industry, we do not produce large number of pieces at a time. We do colouring our ceramic with the traditional way, glazing by hand piece by piece.
Our other policy is also concerning the environment. We order each batch of glaze components just enough for the order. We don’t do large stock of raw material and, for the sake of our Mother Nature, we try to abuse her as little as possible. Therefore, each batch of raw material delivered to us may vary batch to batch.
Some components may not be fully controlled such as some minerals acquired from the mine. Sand, Feldspar, Kaolin are known as key raw materials of ceramic glazes. They are from the mineral mining industry. The properties of those components mentioned could be a little different from spot to spot they were dug from even if they are from the same mining area.
Ceramic colour pigments, in addition, are mostly basic oxide or compound of metals obtained from normal chemical process called oxidation. For example oxidised iron gives Browny Red colour called Iron Oxide. Aqua Blue colour are from oxidation reaction of copper, giving us beautiful blue colour called Copper Oxide. You can imagine the well known monuments or statues made by copper, their rusty parts which are Aqua Blue are copper oxide. To oxidise the metals, there are 2 simple ways, first give them time to react with oxygen in the atmosphere which we call rusting. This process take years. Or we can just fire Metals with enough amount of oxygen to achieve those oxides. The second process are wildly used in many industries. Yet, there’re many factors that could make each batch of colours we receive from our supplier vary batch to batch. The variations are saturation, vibrancy and opacity. Since we know that there could be some variation among batches, we do our incoming inspection before the colours being mixed in our glaze to make sure all the colours received are in the same range and acceptable quality level.
Imagine all items on the shelves are identical and look like they are made from fully industrialised factory. It is not us. We do our work putting 3 combinations together; Hand, Heart, and Concerning of our Mother Nature as our policy.
We do pay attention on the wrong colour or the colours which is wrong or too far different. However comparing the item piece by piece or comparing one batch with another batch is not acceptable. Even the huge floor tile factories operated with fully automation processes and do have the specialised laboratory in house cannot guarantee the same colours of their tiles.
In contrast, our ceramic products are food safe. All the pigments selected are free from hazardous components. They are lead & cadmium free and fired at 1230 degree Celsius. So, they are durable strong and tell history of themselves.
Note: This do not apply to special sensitive glaze such as, Reactive Glaze, which colour variations are part of design quality.