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Stephen just gave me this beautiful book on the history of milk glass, and it has re-sparked my love and inspiration that my collection has given me.
Before I ever even touched porcelain, I was collecting milk glass. Yes you have all seen this glassware strewn through your grandmother's house or piled on tables at garage sales, and that's where I first discovered it as well.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLNM0F2dMaDABmlyepelYgGCrEmCgxkjnbqAlM2hBMPEJ5QI9vZaI7yZRYdkVr5Mw8-QHAiPlx-NQra0sW9YEQ-uBgv58XqvwFqg0rNxHSSyfGsxhvfZcJvlqN5cZnvTo-7R7watIcZ28/s400/L1070884.jpg)
I remember one day in my early 20's rummaging through a dusty salvation army for vintage clothing, when I looked over at the large store front windows filled with milk glass with the sunlight passing through the pieces.
Their translucence amazed me and I was hooked.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3LkE2Rxo3vWUerd38h7NbF_PWZ1vTLeR_06bLyn4c8UGL7A1h4fO8XYMczUZDtlnONYS_Wagr69u-fBwdPos_LVBiydVzeCLI-3cwNr1Ik3YHKUxpnX4IHqXTtUdoLUuRJK7f-3vWwec/s400/L1070889.JPG)
I snatched up several pieces for no more that a dollar each, and the collection was born. I brought them home and used them often, filling them with flowers and my personal favorite, placing votives inside and watching them at night with their flickering glow illuminating the room.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dXCkLwi7Egdu9FX42erjjNc0H_20zuusGzEpV34Ys9lMQZfW5UnsflcX2Y850xr7iHKj_9V7nT1MHag0Kv_nATZXKvLdRT5jwwRjxZr3cPjSz4N1KPp0VlbYyTI_V5fM9RpCsZoU-hE/s400/L1070886.JPG)
Later on in my ceramic career I discovered porcelain, and though I heard of its translucent quality and saw images in books, I never experienced in person.
I was determined to make work that would really be translucent.
So I began working with the buttery clay body throwing it as thin as possible. Stretching my ability and the porcelain until, I thought it would be at that right thinness to let light pass through.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZHvj3Q6slBUlv5ZOL817FjuLO8swJoC_Fu700Tuq5KPt1J7ydb6Iw1xjspM_gOJfSksi4_EG90yjms2nw0jvvZF5dXzCNZ__Wn79UgXicPeaiLpIjVwOuSXIM9ukXUsBEzo__foDkpk/s400/L1070878.jpg)
I wanted "milk glass porcelain", and I believe from my time working with the material, I have achieved it.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgxizIvi0MYWL_S9PBLCHloHW3nV7EUk4S5MUUgUenXx2P8ZxGHRlIoc4LjwZMZ7Ar-mPLHwKQ_ChY-mXOL4zV1wawF2lhenNDMa0YUT5gDlaXvkbip07jfRzgimxeuvYBbzpJ7-qbLQ/s400/L1060763.JPG)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWLmbKfvnezL7-5gVOpBvMXYlLmqqR7qlziEXBrvYMcJUPX51Dh6ijdaORhtZM0A9Kz0Ny6w_4yKTWFB1-gQrOb46hYSBBxvgEXXxf9W0omRCQXwCaqm8zCjUFsb4kif2XnVTfd72ekk/s400/L1060767.JPG)
It has a warmer glow than milk glass, reminding me of pure bright sunshine. While milk glass looks to me of a overcast calm blue winter light.
They both cast beautiful light so well that it melts me every time I see it.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdZSsoIB2Qind_ZreRWAtlxVn-74mWEZHj9raRTQqyCaMRK93H7BX6xMKGRKyQzzHuTQ4cOWVA-hGJCI_Xv-XmbS0USuM-gJ-zqlwj1MGwm9QF__xGDhBBbZ4vnJSj5c6g4Hf_AglUgI/s400/L1060764.JPG)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAflo_EctQQ3nF_LZyEqnAQmCqmH3moDLtYD2C-0f2Jq0kzAoho5MjeaYalYE77Cc5nFThvVND69u6ZM3ACid6crIQ42Y7Mf3kRKILXZCH0f4til4e3aEdD2PIlMx41DsGVft_u6GjrzY/s400/L1050715.jpg)
So If you never experienced the special translucence of either I suggest you pick up a piece of milk glass at a thrift store, or even better one of my pots and hold it in the light.
I am sure you will melt, just like I do.