Crystalline, the art of growing crystals in a pottery glaze began hundreds of years ago, but was not seen in the United States until the late 1800's. The beautiful zinc crystals are grown on porcelain clay at tempertures between 1950° - 2050°. The pieces are hand shaped or wheel thrown from porcelain clay and allowed to dry for 5 - 7 days before they are bisque fired.(1850° firing that hardens the clay and prepares it for glazing. The pieces are then fired to 2400° and cooled very slowly down to 2000°. After stabilizing the kiln, the pieces will remain at 2000° for 4 - 10 hours depending on the desired effect. A longer soaking time and you will get more and larger crystals, a shorter time and you will have smaller crystals with more background glaze showing. The crystals begin growing when zinc and silica particles bond to form zinc-silicate. Sometimes resembling frost on a window, flowers and other times like snow flakes, the crystals are always different. Since it's introduction into the United States crystalline has grown in popularity with collectors.
Jeane and Ronnie began working with crystalline glazes on their pottery in 1979 , in 1982 they found a way to use it on porcelain jewelry. The porcelain jewelry continued to develope over the years and starting in 2001 Jeane began incorporating the crystalline pieces into her bead weaving along with the handmade glass beads. Jeane's first show with the new work was in August of 2003, where she won 1st. place in the jewelry catagory. With over twenty-five awards (and counting) from National Art Shows, Jeane and Ronnie's work is found in collections around the world.