Glaze material · Colorants
Ceramic stains
Also sold as: Mason stains, inclusion stains
Manufactured colorants — oxides pre-fired with stabilisers for predictable colour.
In published recipes
Used in 266 of 10,859 glaze recipes (2.5%)
Typical amount when present
7% of the dry batch — half of recipes fall between 5% and 10%.
Fired surface of those recipes
Glossy 69% · Matte 13% · Semi-glossy 10% · Semi-matte 8%
Most often mixed with
Materials that appear in the same recipes most often.
What potters should know
More predictable than raw oxides and often stable to cone 10. Inclusion (encapsulated) stains give reds and oranges from cadmium locked in zirconium; do not ball-mill them, and test food surfaces.
Handling and safety
Dry ceramic materials generate respirable silica dust. Use a NIOSH-approved N95 or P100 respirator and adequate ventilation when mixing dry, and wet-clean surfaces.
This information is provided for planning purposes and is derived from publicly available sources including OSHA regulations, NIOSH guidance, and manufacturer safety data sheets. It does not constitute professional safety advice. Consult your material suppliers' SDS documents and applicable local regulations for authoritative safety guidance.
Questions
- How much Ceramic stains do potters use in a glaze?
- Across 266 published glaze recipes containing it, the typical amount is 7% of the dry batch, with half of recipes between 5% and 10%. Colorants and additives sit far lower than fluxes and glass formers; treat these as a range to test around, not a target.
- What cone is Ceramic stains used at?
- It appears in recipes across the range; the most common cones among published recipes are cone 6, cone 5, cone 10. Where a material sits depends on the rest of the recipe more than on the material itself.
- Is Ceramic stains safe to use?
- It carries no specific hazard flag beyond the general rule for all dry ceramic materials: avoid breathing the dust and read the supplier's SDS.
Related materials
| Glaze material | recipes | typical |
|---|---|---|
| Cobalt carbonate | 1,181 | 1% |
| Chrome oxide | 648 | 0.5% |
Sources. Usage figures are computed by Claybench over 10,859 glaze recipes compiled from publicly shared community recipe collections (snapshot 2026-02-27) — counts only; no recipe is reproduced, and the figures describe that collection, not every recipe in existence. Material roles and notes are paraphrased from Linda Arbuckle's Ceramic Materials handout unless noted. Hazard notes summarise supplier SDS guidance; read the SDS for the product you buy.
Claybench tracks your glaze materials, not just recipes
Inventory, hazard flags, and per-piece material cost — the same reference behind this page, wired into your studio.