Cone 5 Carved Ghost Mug by Madison Salsgiver

Mayco Smoke and Macadamia on a Carved Ghost Mug

Autumn woods, damp leaves, and a quiet campfire mood come together in this carved Ghost mug by ceramic artist Madison Salsgiver. Built on a speckled brownstone clay body, the piece combines layered carving with soft earthy glaze transitions that settle naturally into every groove and texture. The illustrated ghost scene wraps around the mug like a small woodland story, framed by dark tree silhouettes and warm highlights from the campfire below.

The surface was finished with MAYCO Smoke and MAYCO Macadamia at Cone 5. Smoke deepens the carved lines and shadows, while Macadamia softens the composition with warm cream and toasted sand tones. Applied with an applicator bottle and controlled layering, the glazes create depth without hiding the hand-carved details beneath them. The darker upper section flows naturally into the lighter lower body, giving the mug the atmosphere of dusk settling through a forest.

Cone 5 Ghost Mug Glaze Combination

This Ghost mug demonstrates how balanced glaze selection can support storytelling in functional pottery. The speckled clay body remains visible through the lighter areas, adding texture and movement across the surface. Fired at Cone 5, the combination of Smoke and Macadamia produces a grounded woodland palette that feels quiet, seasonal, and deeply handmade. The result is a mug that belongs equally in a kitchen, a studio shelf, or beside a fire on a cold evening.

Glaze Combination

• Clay body: Speckled brownstone
• MAYCO Smoke
• MAYCO Macadamia
• Glazed with an applicator bottle.
• Cone 5

Credit: Madison Salsgiver