OUR GLAZES

Our range of glazes draws inspiration from our natural surroundings – the rough softness of lichen, the layers of peeling bark on a plane tree. Applied by dipping, pouring, or a combination of both, they complement the character of each lamp; and, like nature, they often create pleasingly unexpected results when they emerge from the kiln.

Dip and Pour

We typically apply glazes using the dip method. This is where a piece is completely submerged to create a uniform layer. It’s a process that can be repeated with either the same glaze or different ones.
Glazes are also applied using a pouring technique, which allows us to graphically layer the glaze, building up variations in tone and color. Again, this can be done with either the same glaze or with a combination of different ones.

Bottle Green

This glaze takes its name from the black-green hue that’s achieved when multiple layers are applied to the clay’s surface. With one or two layers, the glaze creates a more brown finish. Bottle Green’s high-polished sheen is suited to pieces with multiple intersections, edges and joints, which allow the glaze to pool and feather when fired.

Dipped Finch Lamp

Dipped Nomad Sconce

Dipped Bantam Lamp

Bottle-Green & Matte-Black Hudson Lamp

Bottle-Green & Matte-Black Sag Harbor Lamp

COMBINATIONS

We often combine a thick layer of Bottle Green with Matte-Black, as seen here in the Hudson and Sag Harbor lamps.

Carriage Red

This glaze is inspired by the sun-weathered barns dotted around the Connecticut countryside, as well as the vermilion maple leaves seen around the studio as the nights draw in. It’s a neutral, adaptable red—neither too blue nor too orange—which varies depending on the application: thinner coats yield an oxblood tone, while thicker coats increase its intensity. Thick or thin, both break nicely along the edges, creating dark brown accents. 

COMBINATIONS

As this is a newer glaze for us, we’ve yet to combine it with others—we are still getting to know its character and personality. That being said, we have a good hunch about Hide and Walnut as potential pairings.

Chalk

Chalk is a crisp, matte-white glaze that evokes the depth and texture of limewash. A go-to of ours, it captures the subtleties of our clay finishes incredibly well, as it is almost translucent in thinner applications. Further layers create a more opaque effect.

Dipped Chalk Barragan Lamp

Dipped Chalk Finch Lamp

Chalk & Lead Turnier Vase

Chalk & Hide Small Thira Lamp

COMBINATIONS

The versatility of this glaze lends itself to a variety of combinations. We often use it as a clean contrast to our darker and more satin glazes, as seen on the Turnier vase.

It also plays well with others, when overlapped it creates an intensely glossy finish.

Hide

Hide is a nod to the leather-like finish that is created with thicker applications of the glaze. On textured surfaces and edges, this matte-satin glaze intensifies, burnishing its buff tone to a warm umber. It also contains a subtle fleck, which shimmers gently under direct light

Poured Hide Cistern Lamp

Dipped Hide Hanover Lamp

Hide & Navy Small Thira Lamp

Hide & Matte-Black Madeline Lamp

Hide & Lead Turnier Lamp

COMBINATIONS

Like Chalk, this glaze lends itself to a variety of combinations. Hide’s matte warmth pairs perfectly with darker finishes (see our Madeline lamp and Turnier lamp above).

It also overlaps well, intensifying the other glaze, which can be seen on the small Thira lamp.

Lead

With its depth and sheen, this glaze often gets confused for cast metal. We like to use Lead on textured surfaces, as, when fired, it accentuates the clay’s surface through an interplay of matte and satin finishes.

Dipped Lead Houston Lamp

Dipped Lead Patrick Sconce

Lead & Hide Turnier Lamp

Lead & Matte-Black Truro Lamp

COMBINATIONS

Lead’s graphite color is deceptive, especially when combined with other glazes. When paired with parchment, for instance, it creates a bottle green hue. With a thin overlap of Ochre, it becomes an intensely shiny aubergine.

It also works well with Matte-Black, creating a burnished overlap that contrasts Matte-Black’s pumice-like texture.

Lichen

Lichen, like its mutualistic namesake, is a fascinating composite. Interspersed in the glaze are flecks of copper that, when fired, oxidize to create grey-green mottling across the clay’s surface. Thinner applications of the glaze are more seafoam in color (they’re also more uniform), while thicker applications are more grey blue. The mottled pattern, like nature, is unpredictable, so we recommend this glaze is used in isolation on simple textures.

Matte-Black

Our Matte-Black glaze has an earthen quality that intensifies the thicker that it is applied. In thinner applications, it possesses a satin-like finish that accentuates textures – even subtle ones. The more it’s layered, however, the more it becomes volcanic: matte, textured and intensely black.

Dipped Matte-Black Juice Box Lamp

Dipped Matte-Black Lincoln Lamp

Matte-Black & Navy Mattituck Lamp

Matte-Black & Parchment Hudson Lamp

Matte-Black & Parchment New Preston Lamp

COMBINATIONS

This glaze works best in contrast. In contrast to more lustrous finishes, as seen in the Mattituck and Sag Harbor lamp.

In contrast to lighter shades like in the dipped New Preston lamp and in the graphic compositions of the poured Hutton lamp. And even in contrast with itself, when both thick and thin applications are employed.

Mushroom

The mycological-like finish of this glaze is achieved through the overlap of our Lead and Ochre glazes and is an effect that can be varied. Thinner, more even overlaps result in a more lustrous finish but a more mottled coloration. While thicker overlaps create a rich golden color with red-brown undertones.

Mushroom Cereal Lamp

Mushroom Can Lamp

Mushroom Litchfield Lamp

Mushroom Thira Lamp

Navy

This glaze behaves similarly to our Bottle Green glaze. A thin dip or pour of Navy is translucent, giving the piece a denim-like color. Thicker applications of Navy result in a black blue, which, under artificial or direct sunlight, reveals an ultramarine sheen.

Dipped Navy New Preston Lamp

Dipped Clermont Navy

Navy & Hide Small Thira Lamp

Navy & Matte-Black Mattituck Lamp

Navy & Sea Small Thira Lamp

COMBINATIONS

Navy can be combined with many glazes. Overlapping Hide and Navy creates an intense gradient. Combining Matte-Black and Navy intensifies the former’s sheen and density.

And pairing Sea and Navy reveals something completely different when fired: a redolent gold. 

Ochre

Ochre is one of our original glazes and an enduring favorite. Thinner applications reveal more of the clay’s character, giving the glaze a rich golden color and satin finish. However, when poured or dipped multiple times, Ochre becomes almost khaki in color, with a warm, metallic undertone.

Poured Ochre Depot Lamp

Dipped Ochre Santiago Sconce

Dipped Ochre Wedge Lamp

Ochre & Chalk Hirsch Pendant

Ochre & Parchment Gowanus Lamp

COMBINATIONS

This glaze works well as a base for more neutral shades such as Chalk and Parchment, which can be seen on the poured Hirsch pendant and dipped Gowanus lamp. In both instances, Ochre gives these glazes a bit of warmth.

Parchment

Parchment takes its name from the paper-like texture that is created when the glaze is poured or dipped multiple times. Rich and creamy, this warm white suits a variety of forms and finishes. It can also be used in thinner applications to accentuate textures, giving the piece a more satin-like finish.

Dipped Parchment Madeline Lamp

Poured Parchment Litchfield Lamp

Dipped Parchment Walworth Lamp

Dipped Parchment Mug Lamp

Parchment & Ochre Ledner Lamp

Parchment & Matte-Black Hutton Lamp

COMBINATIONS

Like Chalk, Parchment lends itself to a variety of combinations. In combination with lighter glazes, such as Ochre, a matte and creamy finish is created, which can mottle and crack if Parchment is applied thickly.

In combination with darker glazes, like Matte-Black, it creates something entirely new: dark green. And in combination with itself, it creates a subtle sweeping gradation, especially when poured.

Sea

Sea is a new glaze for us. Incredibly matte, this glaze behaves like the sea, hence the name. In thicker applications, like on the Can lamp, it fires as a light blue, much like the water reflecting the sky’s azure. While in thinner applications, Sea possesses a green-ish brown tint, as seen on the Handle pitcher.

Poured Sea Pitcher

Sea & Navy Small Thira Lamp

COMBINATIONS

Sea is a sensitive glaze, even its position in the kiln can influence the final color, so we’re experimenting with different pairings at the moment to determine what works best.

Currently, we’re captivated by the combination of Sea and Navy, which results in an intense ochre that feathers from matte to shine.

Verdigris

Verdigris takes its name from the vivid green pigment that is created when copper oxidizes. However, green is not the only color this glaze is capable of. A single layer of Verdigris gives you a coppery green. A few more layers and it becomes matte and grey. And, after a long heavy dip, it fires a vibrant teal. Due to this range, we tend to use it on its own, as seen on the poured Firefly lantern, which looks as if it has rivulets of oxidized copper streaming across its surface.

Dipped Verdrigris Liberty Vase

Dipped Verdigris New Preston Lamp

Poured Verdigris Firefly Pendant

Poured Verdigris Truro Lamp

Poured Firefly Lantern

Walnut

Walnut is a rich, chestnut brown glaze that, when applied in thin layers, creates a subtle shine where the glaze breaks across the clay’s surface. Thicker applications of Walnut appear almost black and begin to obscure the piece’s texture.

Dipped Walnut Thira Lamp

Walnut & Chalk Can Lamp

Walnut & Chalk Eyvind Lamp

COMBINATIONS

We combine Walnut with Chalk, which, due to the chemical reaction between the glazes, results in an array of greens, from deep and mossy to a watercolor-like celadon.

Walnut may also be combined with itself for an earthy, tonal palette, as seen on the Thira lamp.

Dumais Made began as a series of table lamps. Playful and experimental, they still adorn our home today. Since then, we have expanded and evolved these forms into a range of lamps, sconces and accessories. Designed and handmade in Litchfield, they are pieces for everyday life.

Discover our range of lamps, sconces and accessories