Topic: What is Fat Lava?

[Anne]

Can someone explain what this means please as it's something I'd never heard mentioned until in recent discussions over on the GMB.

[josordoni]

You can find similar glazes on early Delphis and Poole Studio pots, I wonder if they used similar chemicals?

[chopin-liszt]

Thank you for posting this question - saves me doing it!

I was wondering about skinny lava. I reckon I've not got anything good, but a couple of bits have the pumicy glaze, without it being much bubbly, or even very drippy.

One bit even seems to have pumicy stuff with coloured glaze over it.

Why, oh why is it that the truly wonderful stuff always ends up being toxic and dangerous to make?

[ginfor]

The responses so far are correct but quite incomplete.  The terms volcanic glaze and lava glaze are closely related and sometimes the same, but there are variations. Volcanic glazes do usually have a cratered look, but there are also some very fine textured glazes that are more like pumice but still fit well within the general category.  There are also some thick drip glazes, often textured, that deserve the term lava glaze though not always volcanic.
However, I suspect that the term Fat Lava is really a translation issue. German sellers trying to describe a thick glaze but ended up with the word fat instead. There are fat lava glazes, and (forgive me) "lava lite" glazes (diet lava?).
Unfortunately, fat lava is such a fun term that it has gotten used with no relationship to its meaning. Even the book Fat Lava includes a lot of pottery that is neither lava nor fat.
Forrest

[Anne]

Forrest, thank you for expanding on this definition. It all helps poor ignoramuses like me to understand it more.

[Graham Cooley]

Hi

It was me that coined the phrase 'Fat Lava'. As you know it refers to drippy glazes used on 60's and 70's german ceramics. It was the title of my exhibition at the Kings Lynn Arts Centre in 2006 and the title of Mark Hill's accompanying catalogue.

The exhibition included 850 objects from my collection and was both German and Italian Ceramics. We only included the German ceramics in the catalogue because we were unable to ID the Italian ones apart from Raymor and Bitossi. The term Fat Lava was initially applied to both but has now become completely linked to German ceramics, which is probably a good thing.

Graham

[ginfor]

Graham,

The term fat lava was in use on eBay at least two years before the exhibition.  Were you using the term in some way at the time that generated the eBay use?

Forrest

[Graham Cooley]

Hi Forrest

Thats very true and indeed Patrick and Petra of Outernational used it in their descriptions. I started buying on ebay in 2000 (I think). The exhibition resulted in it being used to describe the whole range of sixties German ceramics. In other words the vessels and not the glazes.

The first thing on German Ceramics I found on the net was your website, truly inspirational. When did it first go up.

Graham

[ginfor]

Graham,

I actually don't remember when the site went up or when I started putting up the informational parts about W. German pottery.  The first article I had published was Dec. 1, 2003, and I think the site was already in place.  At the time, it was pretty much the only source of information in English.

If I understand the timing with the fat lava phrase, it's accurate to say that your exhibition and the catalog popularized the phrase, but are you also saying that you were (as far as you know) the first to use it on eBay, or was it already showing up?

Forrest

[Graham Cooley]

Hi Forrest,

It was already showing up and I selected it for the title of the exhibition because it was such a fantastic phrase. My reason for pointing this out earlier in this thread was to respond to your post:

"There are fat lava glazes, and (forgive me) "lava lite" glazes (diet lava?). Unfortunately, fat lava is such a fun term that it has gotten used with no relationship to its meaning. Even the book Fat Lava includes a lot of pottery that is neither lava nor fat."

I agree with this and was 'admitting' responsability for the exhibition coining a phrase which today covers all sixties German ceramics, Lava or not. Indeed it nearly included the Italian ones as well!

The beauty of the phrase is that two short words can provide a search phrase and also give a snappy short hand for collectors.

What is your plan for your website? Are you still actively collecting? I have found many marvellous examples since the exhibition.

Regards
Graham

[ginfor]

Graham,

Okay, so we need to be precise in the language here.  "Coining" the term means creating it, being the first to use it.  So you popularized it, but who actually coined it, and whether it was intentional or a computer translation issue (my theory) remains a mystery.

I haven't updated the "gallery" on my site in a long time and should do so, but I've been limiting how much information I add because I don't want to conflict with Kevin's eventual book.  I added an essay not too long ago about the terms lava, volcanic, and drip glazes to start distinguishing types better, and as I think of things that aren't covered in books or planned books, I'll add those.

I'm still buying when the money is there, but since I'm a collector/dealer, almost everything is in the "rotating" collection, which means we enjoy it until it sells.  Since the economy here is really, really bad (worst in about 60 years), I haven't been doing fairs, which means I haven't been selling much.  That also means I haven't bought much lately.

I have gotten very selective in what I do buy and try to avoid more common items or those with weak proportions.  That still leaves more wonderful things than I can afford.  There is a museum exhibition planned in Canada, but I don't think it's scheduled until early 2011 now.

One unfortunate reason I can't do much buying right now (except trying to fill out boxes for sellers already holding items) is that one of our cats has been in intensive care for the last 10 days and still isn't doing well.  We managed to get a special Pet Care credit account, but we're going to have to figure out how to raise a lot of extra money.

Forrest

[Graham Cooley]

Forrest,

Thanks for the reply, actually it is Mark Hill and his book that are responsible for popularising the term, as you know exhibitions only have a lasting influence if a writer and publisher like Mark invest the time and money.

I think the original reference to 'Lava' may come from those Icelandic vases (the makers name escapes me for the moment) with actual pieces of Lava stuck to the surface. I found quite alot of them at one time but have not seen one recently.

I hope your cat gets better.

Graham

PS Do you know when Kevins book is coming out?

[antiquerose123]

So FAT Lava only means the glaze?  And if no drippy glaze, just German pottery?  Sorry but I do not know?  I will be posting a plain vase under German pottery, since it has not drippy glaze...but does say W. GERMANY with numbers on it...

[Anne]

Yes that's it exactly Rose.