A Guide to Crazing, What is it and is it Good or Bad?

04 May
If you are a collector of vintage then you've probably heard of crazing but do you know what it really is?


In this post I'll cover the following common questions:

  • What is crazing?
  • What causes crazing?
  • Are dishes with crazing safe to use?
  • Can I remove crazing?
  • Does crazing affect the value?

I'll share the answers and share some of my favorite pieces in my own collection!

A Guide to Crazing -  What is it and is it Good or Bad?


A Guide to Crazing, What is it and is it Good or Bad?


What is Crazing?


Have you ever seen pottery or ceramic dishes where the surface looks like it’s covered with a spider web of tiny cracks?


That’s called crazing. 


They are not cracks in the actual piece of pottery but rather surface-level cracks in the fired glaze.


Here is a small creamer from my collection that shows some pretty extensive crazing. Read on to learn why the the crazing looks brown.


A Guide to Crazing, What is it and is it Good or Bad?


You can see some pieces that I've bought and resold in these two posts too (they do have other items included but there are some examples of items with crazing that have still sold for me):


What Causes Crazing?


So, what causes it? There are many reasons why something may have developed crazing.

  • Temperature and humidity changes - for example, if you move from New Orleans, the city in the US with the highest humidity levels, to Arizona, where it is dryer than a popcorn fart, your collection may develop some crazing.
  • Moisture damage - for example, if you use a piece as a planter.
  • Rough handling - it can be caused from being bumped and moved around a lot such as when it's in storage.
  • Age - it generally happens with age though, that’s why you see vintage and antique items with crazing more often than new items. Much like humans with wrinkles developing as we age, pottery develops these crazing “wrinkles” as it ages.

A Guide to Crazing, What is it and is it Good or Bad?


Are Dishes With Crazing Safe to Use?


Technically, crazing is considered a defect in the glaze and can weaken the item. It may also harbor bacteria. 


For this reason, if you are buying pieces to use for serving food you should look for uncrazed pieces.


A Guide to Crazing, What is it and is it Good or Bad?

Can I Remove Crazing?


No, you cannot remove the actual cracks in the glaze, but you can try to remove the matter that has settled into these fine craze lines that makes them visible. 


The discoloration is caused by a combination of moisture that can penetrate these lines combined with organic matter such as coffee, tea, oil, food, dust, etc. that morphs into a form of bacteria. 


It sits between the lines or in the clay under the glaze so cannot be removed by scrubbing the surface.


Lakeside Pottery has a tutorial sharing how to remove the stains if you’d like to try it:

A Guide to Crazing, What is it and is it Good or Bad?

Does Crazing Affect the Value?


"Value" is a very subjective thing in my opinion. If you are trying to sell something for what it's "worth" and it doesn't sell then is it really worth that? 😉


But, if you are collecting for your own personal enjoyment then it just depends on how you feel about worth and crazing. 


If you are a collector and you want to insure your collection, then a professional appraiser will most likely take crazing into account when giving you an insurance value. The amount it may affect the value depends on the extent of the crazing. 


How do you feel about crazing? Do you like it?


Personally, I think the crazing is beautiful! I am drawn to white pieces that have extensive crazing and staining as you can see from the pieces I've shown here!


I think that most people don't care for it simply because every piece I have purchased has been priced SO low! Not one of the pieces I've shown here has cost me more than $1.00!!


So, I'll be curious to hear your opinion 😊



A Guide to Crazing, What is it and is it Good or Bad?



This next one is my favorite!


It sits on the window ledge in my kitchen and holds the sponge (normally, I'd say the dampness from the sponge is what caused the crazing but in this case, it looked like this when I got it).



A Guide to Crazing, What is it and is it Good or Bad?


This is the backside... obviously, the moisture has really gotten into the crazing lines on this piece!


A Guide to Crazing, What is it and is it Good or Bad?


I hope you enjoyed this post and learned something about crazing. If you liked it, I'd love it if you'd share it!


PIN ME TO REFER TO LATER!
A Guide to Crazing, What is it and is it Good or Bad?



You might also like some of my other guides to vintage items below:


A Guide to Crazing, What is it and is it Good or Bad?



A Guide to Crazing, What is it and is it Good or Bad?

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