Bill Boyd, creates unique and spectacular ceramic pots, vases and plates from his studio on Galiano Island, British Columbia, using a relatively new technique called Crystalline Glaze. There are not many examples before the early 20th century, but Boyd has been obsessed with this technique every since he discovered Zinc-Silicate crystal glazes in 2002. Where some potters do not want to deal with the difficulties involved in producing this glaze, Boyd has developed the patience and passion needed to create beautiful and stunning pieces.

Crystal glazes require an intricate long cooling schedule. They run off the pot and need special containers to collect the running glaze so that it does not ruin the kiln shelves. It is impossible to repeat something again. Each piece is unique. The crystals are formed by a chemical reaction during cooling and grow from small nuclei created during the melting process when silica and zinc come together to form zinc-silicate. He fires the crystal glazed ware to approximately 2340 degrees F. and then hold the temperature in the kiln on cooling between 2000 F. and 1830 F. for approximately 3 to 5 hours depending on the glaze.

Each glaze composition, together with the firing schedule and glaze thickness, makes different forms and colors of crystals. Boyd uses cobalt oxide, nickel oxide, iron oxide, copper oxide, and manganese oxide for different colored crystals.

Stop by interiorMatters bespoke to see Bill Boyd’s magnificent pieces in person or have a sneak peak at his work in our online Galleries.