Definition:Glaze

Glaze is the glass-like coating applied to ceramic ware and fused to the body during firing, sealing the porous clay, providing color, and creating a range of surface effects from high-gloss to matte. In dog figurines, glaze type is closely linked to maker and tradition: the bright, high-gloss enamel glazes of Staffordshire and Japanese export wares; the controlled satin-matte glazes of Rosenthal and Hutschenreuther; the distinctive color glazes of SylvaC; and the under-glaze painting of Royal Copenhagen and Dahl Jensen, where decoration is applied beneath the glaze layer for permanence and depth. Glaze condition is one of the primary value determinants for any ceramic dog figurine — chips, crazing, staining, or restoration that affects the glaze surface are assessed at every stage of collecting. See also: Crazing.