Frit

Frit is a special glassy powder used in ceramics to create glaze. At high temperatures, the frit melts, forming a smooth, shiny coating that protects the item from moisture and chemical exposure. The base is a mixture of sand, feldspar, and metal oxides.

Interestingly, the secrets of frit composition were kept for centuries by masters of faience and porcelain manufactories. For example, at the Meissen manufactory in the 18th century, glaze formulas were recorded in ciphers to maintain exclusivity.

Today, there are many types of frit: matte, transparent, colored, and even with a metallic sheen. It is the quality of the frit that determines whether the surface of a cup will softly shimmer or shine like a mirror. It is an invisible hero of ceramic art, shaping the familiar aesthetics of gloss and smoothness.