Burnishing pottery dates back to Greek civilization and is still used today by many artists in lieu of commercial or homemade glazes. Even though burnishing can be time consuming and tedious, the rewards are well worth the effort once a vessel or pot is completed.

The technique of burnishing pottery creates a shiny, natural polished surface. The first time I touched a burnished vessel I was awe-struck by the softness of the surface. The vessel had such a sensuous, natural feel to it.

That sensuous, natural feel is easily accomplished by rubbing a tool against the clay when the clay is either leather hard of bone dry. Even though I don't burnish a work at the leather hard stage, many artists do. I prefer polishing a vessel when it is dry.

Once a piece of work becomes dry, I either apply olive oil or vegetable oil to the vessel's surface. I apply oil to small areas and burnish the work using a flat surfaced instrument that aids in developing a polished look.

Using a flat surfaced tool and criss-crossing strokes, the burnishing process begins in the area where the oil was applied. Some clay artist prefer to apply a light coat of water against a dry surface for polishing a piece of pottery.

After completing the burnishing process, either Terra Sigillata or slip is applied to the work and burnished for the second time. Once the polishing process is completed, I set the work aside until the slip or Terra Sigillata is completely dry and ready to be bisque fired.

Subsequent to the bisque firing, that once shiny surface is now completely dull. In order to revitalize that beautifully polished surface, the work must be smoke-fired. After the smoke-firing is complete, that polished surface is restored along with interesting patterns and hints of color created from the smoke-firing.

That technique called "burnishing" has been around for thousands of years and will continue to be utilized as long as artists continue to work in clay. Polishing a vessel can be arduous but once you see and feel the finished product, you will be pleased and delighted with your well earned efforts.