Customer-Favorite AMACO Glaze Combinations to Try

There are a number of Amaco glazes and layered combinations that are perennially popular, because they are so reliably amazing! Check out these fan favorites, and you’ll see why potters come back to them repeatedly.

Iron Lustre and Oatmeal

This combination is pure magic: combining a creamy yellow glaze over a gray-green glaze to get PURPLE! The best way to get the effect is to apply 2-3 coats of PC-33 Iron Lustre over the entire surface, then 1 coat of PC-31 Oatmeal to the top half, allowing some space for the Oatmeal to run and create the purple and blue effect. This is best fired to cone 6, but will still show the effect hotter or cooler. Too much Oatmeal will result in brown. It shows up best on lighter clays.

Ancient Copper and Honey Flux

Two glazes that are lovely on their own and when given a slight overlap create a creamy tan accent. Just use a small overlap, and fire to cone 6 with a fast or natural cool (no slow cool, or Ancient Copper will turn brown). Two to three coats each of PC-17 Honey Flux and PC-56 Ancient Copper. Honey Flux is great on all clay bodies, looking more blue on dark or black clays.

Obsidian and Seaweed

The combination that launched the obsession with Obsidian! Layer 2 coats of PC-42 Seaweed over 2-3 coats of C-1 Obsidian for a stunning blue-green running over black. When the Celadon line first launched Obsidian was the least ordered, but once an ad ran in Ceramic Monthly showing this combo it shot to the top seller in the Celadons! This combo works at cone 5 or 6, though Seaweed will get runny when fired hotter. Obsidian is opaque and looks great on most clay bodies.

Blue Rutile and Textured Turquoise

A bit runny when fired, this combination takes two of our most loved blue glazes and combines them for a rich float of light colors. Great for textures and smooth forms alike, use 2 coats of PC-20 Blue Rutile, followed by 2 coats of PC-25 Textured Turquoise. The hotter this is fired the more tan float you’ll see from both glazes, so it’s best for cone 5 or cone 6, but not hotter. It’s somewhat translucent, so it will show up best on lighter clays, but it's lovely on dark clays, too!

Deep Firebrick and Arctic Blue

The bright opaque color of Arctic Blue pairs beautifully with Deep Firebrick’s garnet shade. Use 2 coats of PC-21 Arctic Blue as an accent over a base of 2-3 coats of PC-59 Deep Firebrick. Both glazes have a wide firing range and can be fired at cone 5 or 6, and show up well on a variety of clay bodies.

River Birch and Satin Oribe

This combo brings together opposites, the glossy speckled cream of PCF-74 River Birch and the satiny stone look of PC-15 Satin Oribe. Use a small overlap to create contrast between the two glazes. River Birch can be runny, so usually Satin Oribe is used at the bottom as a stiff base. 2 coats of River Birch with a small overlap over 2 coats of Satin Oribe. This combo is great for cone 5 or cone 6 and on most clay bodies.

Bonus Favorite: Emerald Falls and Mulberry

This combination is similar to another favorite, Seaweed over Mulberry, but using Emerald Falls instead creates a little more green than the classic Seaweed. We layered 2 coats of PC-47 Emerald Falls over 2 coats of C-57 Mulberry Celadon to create this cute cup.