Smokey Merlot over River Birch By Ashley Dana

Smokey Merlot over River Birch on Textured Stoneware

This textured mug by Ashley Dana showcases Smokey Merlot over River Birch, a Cone 6 glaze combination that transforms carved stoneware into a landscape of soft blue, grey, and cream tones. Two coats of AMACO River Birch form the foundation, while two coats of Smokey Merlot are layered over the top. Fired to a hot Cone 6 with a normal cooling cycle, the combination develops a smooth glossy surface with subtle variation across the ridges and recessed areas of the form.

One of the most interesting qualities of Smokey Merlot over River Birch is the way the glazes respond to texture. River Birch settles into the carved grooves, while Smokey Merlot softens the surface with pale blue and silvery tones. Along the vertical ridges, the glazes break differently, revealing lighter highlights and creating natural variation from top to bottom. The interaction between the two glazes produces a layered appearance that changes as light moves across the mug.

Why Potters Enjoy Smokey Merlot over River Birch

Many potters appreciate Smokey Merlot over River Birch for its ability to produce complex surfaces with a simple two-glaze application. The combination can shift from pale blue to soft grey, with hints of cream and warmer tones appearing around edges and textured details. On functional pottery such as mugs, the glaze pairing highlights both form and craftsmanship, making carved and textured surfaces especially rewarding. Ashley Dana’s mug demonstrates how Smokey Merlot over River Birch can create depth, movement, and variation while remaining balanced and easy to use at Cone 6.

• Base coat of AMACO River Birch x2
• AMACO Smokey Merlot 2x
• Fired to Hot cone 6
• Normal cool

Credit: Ashley Dana