Jonathan Leak: From Convict to Master Potter in Sydney
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A stoneware ginger beer bottle, made in Sydney by Jonathan Leak at his Brickfield hill pottery in the 1820s. It is a rare example of the earliest surviving marked pottery made in Australia, impressed stamp 'Leak' to shoulder, 18 cm high. At the age of 42, on 11th March 1819, Jonathan Leak was tried in the County of Stafford, England, and convicted of burglary. His death sentence was commuted to transportation for life and he arrived in Australia in December of that year, on board the brig 'Recovery', with another convicted potter, John Moreton. The Governor put Leak and Moreton to work at a clay site on Brickfield hill, in Sydney. In December 1821 Leak was permitted to start work for himself. Leaving the Government Pottery under the control of Moreton, Leak established his own business on a piece of land off Elizabeth Street, near the Brickfields. By September 1822, because of his good conduct and diligent application to his work, Leak was granted his ticket-of-leave and assigned to himself. His wife and their four children had been able to join him in September of that year. [See 'Australian Pottery : the first 100 Years' by Geoff Ford [salt glaze press, Wodonga, 1995].
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- Salt Glazed - Salt glazing involves throwing salt into the kiln when it is at its highest temperature, usually around 2,300 to 2,400 degrees Fahrenheit (1,260 to 1,320 degrees Celsius). The salt vaporizes and forms a glaze on the surface of the pottery, creating a range of effects depending on how the salt is applied and the firing conditions. This glazing method was first developed in Germany in the 15th century and quickly became popular throughout Europe and North America. It was particularly popular for making stoneware pottery, such as jugs, crocks, and other utilitarian objects.
Salt glazes can produce a range of colors, including gray, brown, blue, and even pink or purple in some cases. The texture of the glaze is typically rough and pebbled, with a matte or satin finish. The process of salt glazing can be unpredictable, with variations in temperature and salt application leading to subtle variations in the finished product.
Salt glazing is still used by potters and ceramic artists although it is less common than it was in the past.
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