A couple of years back I received a phone call from a fellow in Atlanta who had bought some pottery from me at an art festival there and had kept my business card. He asked if we were going to be at the festival again that year (we were) and if I could make something special for him. He explained that he had broken his favorite lidded casserole dish and wanted a replacement. He gave me the exact dimensions, but when I asked him what color glaze he wanted on it he acted a little confused.

"I don't want a colored glaze, I want it to be clear," he said.

"Oh, so you just want a clear glaze with the natural color of the clay showing through?" I asked.

"No," he replied, "I want it clear. Like a window."

It was 100% new information to him when I explained that potters work with clay which is opaque, that what he wanted was something made of glass which is clear and transparent. And I'm still not certain I convinced him. He probably thinks I was making it all up just because I didn't really want to do a special order.


Yes, they walk among us. Fortunately, he walks about 300 miles from where I live.