There are many reasons for colors chipping, but it is probably due more
frequently to the careless application of color than to any other cause.
Sometimes, and in fact quite frequently, it is due to imperfections in
the china. A frequent imperfection is that the glaze is very thin and
in firing the colors cannot adhere to it.
Less trouble, however, is experienced with the light colors, such as
yellows, grays, blues, reds and light greens. While in the darker
colors, the browns, dark greens, purples, etc., it is found that they
are more liable to chip off.
Then too very hard china gives more trouble than a softer ware, such as
English or Belleek.
Artists frequently think that thick colors will produce heavier tints.
This is not so. The mistake is a bad one. The colors will not only chip
off very soon, but will lose their brilliancy. The only sure way to
meet with satisfactory results is to apply the color very evenly,
avoiding lumpy strokes.
If colors are well mixed and perfectly smooth and free from grit, there
is very little danger of chipping.
The most objectionable feature in china painting, and we might say
hopeless one, is chipping, as there is really no good way to remedy it.
The nearest thing to a solution that we can offer is to fill in the
chipped place and refire—but the glaze will never be quite the same.
The great danger in refiring is that some other part of the decoration
may be marred in the same way. Whenever the chipping occurs in a place
that can be covered with enamel or paste and gold, it is best to remedy
it in this way.
One way to remedy it, and to avoid the necessity of an extra firing, is
to mix the powdered color with copal varnish and apply it thickly over
the chipped places. This looks fairly well and will remain brilliant
for some time.
Another difficulty that may be experienced is blistering. The cause of
this is bad oil. In this case the color will not chip off, but it will
shrink. This condition is hard to remedy but a small amount of oil of
cloves added to the mixing medium will prevent it.
In decalcomania or transfer work, blistering happens very frequently.
This happens because the transfers have not been washed sufficiently,
and thoroughly dried before applying. This may be prevented if a wash
of oil of cloves is used, over the dry transfer, dabbing it on with a
slightly moistened pad. It is absolutely necessary that the transfers
should be free from any trace of moisture.
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