Luster

Luster is a special technique that gives the surface of clay objects an iridescent metallic shine. This effect is achieved by applying a very thin layer of metal oxides (usually silver or copper) and then firing in an environment with reduced oxygen access. The metal settles on the surface as a transparent film, creating a mysterious 'glowing' shade - from golden to iridescent pink-green.

The peak of luster's popularity came in the Middle Ages - especially in Islamic art, where due to the ban on gold, craftsmen invented a way to 'imitate wealth' without using precious metal. Later, luster techniques spread to Spain and Italy. Today, luster painting is again in fashion among ceramists and designers: it combines ancient alchemy of glazes and modern aesthetics of shine. Each piece is unique - it is impossible to exactly repeat the play of light, and that is its magic.