Golem Design Studio

GOLEM DESIGN STUDIO - Handmade Stoneware Beads and Pendants- Colorful, dramatic, and unusual beads -- Made of strong, durable, high fired stoneware -- Carefully handmade, under strict quality control - We (Vladislav Ivanov and Kremena Ivanova) are an artist family from Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria. We have been working as a team and a company since the year 2000, however, we have been gaining experience in the field of ceramic and glazes for the last 19 years. For the last 5 years we have been successfully dealing with retail and wholesale clients from USA, UK and Australia.Living on a crossroad between Europe and Asia we have developed eclectic interests and tastes, which are reflected in each of our beads and pendants. Although our work cannot be associated with any specific national tradition or style, we incorporate patterns taken from a variety of ancient and contemporary art forms.We find our inspiration from different parts of the world and ages. There are some patterns taken from the pre-Columbian art of Latin America, a pinch of Viking and Celtic art, much of pre-historic art as a whole, as well as adding something from us. Techniques UsedThe beads' names are quite explicit regarding the techniques used. However, here are some explanations related to each kind:1. Glazed Beads (GSB, GTB, GFB) all of them have smooth surface - after been hand-shaped they are fired at 900 degrees. Then using painting brushes of different sizes we apply the glazes all over the surface. Finally, we fire them again at higher temperatures - between 1050 and 1200 degrees Celsius, depending on the used glaze.2. Glazed Relief Beads (GRB) - The main characteristic feature is that for their decorating we use clay stamps. This is a very old technology, utilized by the people that used to live on our lands 6 000 BC. The clay-stamps found all around the Mediterranean area were the tools used for this technique and are called pintaderas. Similar techniques were widely used also in Schumer, Mohenjo-Daro, and other places, as well. We make them in this way: we hand shape them, and then we apply the engravings utilizing various clay stamps (flat or round) with different patterns. After they all dry away, we fire them once at a temperature of 900 degrees Celsius. Then using painting brushes of different sizes we apply the glazes (of various colors). Finally, we fire the products again at higher temperatures - between 1100 and 1200 degrees Celsius. The difference here is that we use color transparent glazes so that the carvings under the glaze be seen. Unfortunately, the transparent glazes exist only in these colors (Green, Amber and Indigo). This fact restricts us in the variety of colors of this type of beads.3. Rubbed Relief Beads (RRB) - these are also hand shaped, but the engravings are applied using special tools that imprint on the wet surface subconcave lines and dots. After the first firing at 900 degrees Celsius, we put the glaze on the beads, then using a small cloth remove the glaze from the surface in this way that it remains only within the ornamental lines and dots. Finally, we fire them again at higher temperature - 1200 degrees Celsius.4. Carved Beads (CB) - first, they are hand shaped; then using a sharp tool and when the clay is still soft we engrave the lines of the ornaments. After they all dry away, we fire them once at a temperature of 900 degrees Celsius (the so-called bisque firing). Then using painting brushes of different sizes we apply the glazes (opaque glazes of various colors). Finally, we fire the products again at higher temperatures - between 1100 and 1200 degrees Celsius.5. Unglazed Beads (UB) - we use the same shaping techniques used for making all of the glazed beads but in this case we simply don't glaze them and fire them only once at temperature of 1100 degrees for Red Brick, and 1200 degrees for Ivory and Ebony. This is the reason for their smaller price as compared to all other beads. Materials Used1. ClaysAt the moment we are using four different types of stoneware clay: 1.1. White stoneware clay - it's used for some types of Carved Beads (CB), Rubbed Relief Beads (RRB); for all types of Glazed Relief Beads (GRB), Glazed Spherical Beads (GSB), Glazed Tubelet Beads (GTB); as well as for part of the Unglazed Beads (UB). Except in UB, in all the other types it (the clay base) could not be seen because it is covered with different types and colors of glazes. But its color is in fact yellowish-white after firing, which can be seen with UB and in this case we call the color "Ivory".1.2. Red stoneware clay - we use it for some types of Carved Beads (CB), and for part of the Unglazed Beads (UB) - in the latter case we call the color - "Red Brick".1.3. Black German stoneware clay - we use it for some types of Carved Beads (CB), Rubbed Relief Beads (RRB) and for part of the Unglazed Beads (UB) - in this case we call the color "Ebony". 1.4. Grey stoneware - At the moment we are using it only for part of the Unglazed Beads (UB) - unfortunately, for the time being we don't have any pictures of them. When we make some, we'll upload them to the gallery and let you know. 2. GlazesAlmost all glazes are mixed after my own recipes - i.e. we use ready-made ingredients but the contents and the way of blending are resulting from my research.According to the firing temperature the glazes used by us are divided into three different kinds of glazes:2.1 Low temperature glazes - under 1050 degrees CelsiusTo this category go the red and the orange glaze. The reason we use them rarely in carved beads is that they can hardly be matched with other glazes owing to their low firing temperature.2.2 Medium temperature glazes - between 1050 and 1150 degrees CelsiusHere are almost all color non-transparent glazes that we use and the transparent ones used for Glazed Relief Beads, as well. All these are freely matched between themselves and they can be successfully applied on all types of clay we use.2.3 High temperature glazes - over 1150 degrees CelsiusHere go some variants of white, blue and dark brown (specially blended for these high temperatures) and we use them mainly in Rubbed Relief Beads (RRB) and some pendants. Contact Information Golem StudioVladislav Ivanov & Kremena IvanovaLedenik 5049Bulgaria, Veliko Tarnovo Region Phone: 359-888-558126E-mail: vlad@golemstudio.com