Earthenware

Crazing, a series of fine cracks in the glaze, can occur due to faulty manufacture or can develop later as a result of moisture-expansion of the porous body. The development of delayed crazing is accelerated by damp packaging or by storage in warm, humid conditions. Damp packing may also damage decoration applied to the surface of the glaze. Cracks in the ware which have become filled with glaze, or where the edges of the fractured glaze are rounded, are due to faulty manufacture. Breakage in transit and scratching of the surface of the ware can be minimised by adequate packing. Some items of sanitaryware are packed in skeleton crates for ease of handling and stowing rather than effective protection. Breakage of serious chipping will invariably render the articles useless or valueless, but very minor chips or scratches may be acceptable dependent upon location of damage area. Glazed surfaces can develop defects from scratching which are not to be confused with crazing resulting from faulty manufacture. Scratches are usually irregular in both width and depth and the ends may be intermittent.