We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culinary

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Burnishing?

Sara Schmidt
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 15,189
Share

Burnishing is a type of craft application. It can be used on many different mediums, including wood, paper, metal, and clay. As a pottery treatment, burnishing is used to polish the surface of the medium with a hard, smooth object.

An artist may burnish a finished piece of pottery prior to the firing process. Burnishing creates a pleasing glossy finish to clay jars, vases, and other finished projects. This adds a lustrous shine resulting in a professional, polished look on the piece.

To burnish a piece of pottery, the project should first be allowed to dry. Depending on the type of medium, thickness, and the size of the piece, this could take from mere hours to a day or more. The clay or other medium should be firm to prevent the burnishing tool from leaving scratches or other marks on the artwork. It should also remain somewhat pliable to prevent scratching from occurring during the process.

Using a specialized burnishing tool, gently buff the pottery work. Some burnishing tools to choose from include plastic tools, bone or wooden spatulas, glass bulbs, or smooth stones. The back of a spoon can also be used if other tools are unavailable.

Small circular motions should be used in this process. Avoid pressing too deeply to prevent scratching or marring. As the object is burnished, a high gloss will begin to appear in the treated areas. This will allow the artist to easily see which areas still require treatment.

After the first treatment, set the piece aside to dry once again. It should not be allowed to dry completely. As it sits, the first gloss initiated will begin to wear off, resulting in a matte look. Proceed to burnish the piece again, creating the shine originally created in the first treatment. Following the second burnishing, the piece should be set aside to dry completely.

Once the piece is thoroughly dry, it will need an oil application to seal in the polished shine. To do this, corn oil may be used to coat the piece's surface. The entire area should be covered. Though the burnish will likely seem to disappear during the employment of the oil, it will return during the final step of the project.

Buff the art piece once again with the burnishing tool. After the last treatment, the project should be smoothed a final time with the artist's hands. The creation will then have a permanent sheen.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Sara Schmidt
By Sara Schmidt
With a Master's Degree in English from Southeast Missouri State University, Sara Schmidt puts her expertise to use by writing for WiseGeek, plus various magazines, websites, and nonprofit organizations. She published her own novella and has other literary projects in the works. Sara's diverse background includes teaching children in Spain, tutoring college students, running CPR and first aid classes, and organizing student retreats, reflecting her passion for education and community engagement.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By JaneAir — On Jul 10, 2011

@starrynight - That is very sad about your vase. At least you got to enjoy it for that one week!

Did you know you can also burnish wood? When I took shop in high school we used this process instead of applying varnish to a few of our smaller pieces. What we did was sand the piece til it was smooth and then rub it with wood shavings for a burnished finish.

I actually don't really like the look of burnished wood very much and really preferred the pieces that I finished with varnish.

By starrynight — On Jul 10, 2011

When I took ceramics in college I created a burnished vase. The burnishing process was a little bit time consuming but I was really happy with the way it turned out. Unfortunately I had the finished vase for about a week before my cat knocked it over and it shattered! I still have my memories though.

Sara Schmidt
Sara Schmidt
With a Master's Degree in English from Southeast Missouri State University, Sara Schmidt puts her expertise to use by writing for WiseGeek, plus various magazines, websites, and nonprofit organizations. She published her own novella and has other literary projects in the works. Sara's diverse background includes teaching children in Spain, tutoring college students, running CPR and first aid classes, and organizing student retreats, reflecting her passion for education and community engagement.
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-burnishing.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.