Innovative Application of Traditional Paper Marbling Technique in the Fabrication of Ceramic Glazes

This research introduces an innovative approach for decorating ceramic surfaces through systematic reformulation of the historic paper marbling process for application in ceramic glaze. Despite as much as marbling has a longstanding history in the paper, textile, and diverse decorative arts, application in ceramics is largely unexamined. In this research, both water-based and oil-based marbling formulations, utilizing traditional materials such as tragacanth, eremurus mucilage, gum Arabic, ox-gall, and linseed oil were developed and optimized for underglaze, overglaze, and colored-glaze techniques. The experimental process consisted of forming stable floating pigments and adapting designs on size, which were then successfully transferred onto ceramic bisque surfaces. Firing schedules and glaze formulas were methodically adjusted to achieve the preservation of marbled patterns following firing. The findings demonstrate that the enhanced marbling technique facilitates the development of complicated, decorative effects on ceramic substances, thereby addressing earlier restrictions with color control, pattern delicacy, and material compatibility. Among the tested approaches, the underglaze marbling method employing gum Arabic as a binder yielded the most favorable visual quality and overall performance. This cross-disciplinary development not only enriches the aesthetic potential of ceramic art but also offers a replicable approach to incorporating historic marbling processes into contemporary ceramic technologies. The results yield new knowledge on material properties, process optimization, and innovative potential of traditional processes in contemporary ceramic design.