pictures and letters on pottery

In message , April Ann writes

They are called 'decals', which is short for decalcomania, whatever that means. They usually go on top of the final glaze.

There are several companies supplying stock decals, such as Potterycrafts in the UK, but if you want to have your own design put on a decal, it can be expensive. I got a quote from Pamela Moreton (also UK) for a single small design, consisting of text (no half-tones), and it was in the region of 70 UKP.

A Google search for 'decals' gives over 2 million results, so you have plenty to choose from! Refine your search, to eliminate the decals which are applied to racing cars, or to aeromodels and the like.

I never new that.

It means exactly what it looks like... "decal mania" or craziness. It's from French words for "decal" (to transfer a tracing) and "craze", due to the popularity of the techinque in the 19th century.

Thanks for the info everyone. Now I know what to look for. I'm surprised they go on over the last glaze. I would have thought they would go on, then you'd put clear glaze over them to protect them.

*Catch you on the flipside*

Go to

for the biggest selection of decals you can imagine. I ordered their catalog, while expensive, is awesome. Just put the decal on after everything else is done, fire it to about 017 and you're done.