A celadon glaze is one of the oldest glaze styles in ceramics: a glossy, see-through glaze that collects in carving and texture so the pattern shows as darker and lighter color. This page explains what makes a celadon, then reviews AMACO's Celadon line, the mid-fire version most US home potters can buy in pints.
It is research-based. We used AMACO's line and product pages, its Complete Guide to Clay, Glazes and Underglazes, and dealer listings. We have not fired these glazes ourselves.
What is a celadon glaze?
Celadon describes a family of transparent glazes, originally from China and later famous in Korea, that fire to soft greens, gray-greens and blues. The traditional color comes from a small amount of iron in the glaze, fired in a reduction (oxygen-starved) gas kiln. The glaze is clear enough that it looks pale where thin and deep where it pools.
That pooling is the whole point. Carved lines, stamped texture and the inside of a bowl's foot ring hold more glaze, so they read darker. On a smooth, uncarved pot, a celadon looks like a simple colored gloss.
Modern commercial celadon glazes, including AMACO's, keep the transparent, pooling behavior but are made to work in an electric kiln in oxidation and come in many colors beyond green. AMACO describes its line as glazes that pool and accent textured ware "like the ancient glazes they are created to imitate".
Verdict on AMACO Celadons
AMACO Celadons are a good choice for cone 6 potters who carve, stamp or throw with texture and want color that stays clear. The line is fully mixable, so a few jars give you many custom shades, and it doubles as a base for Potter's Choice layering.
The weak spot is the label. Not every color shows the same marks, so check food safety and AP or CL status color by color. A pint typically costs about $20 to $30 at US sellers in October 2026; check the live price.
AMACO Celadon specs at a glance
- Glaze fire: Cone 5, 2,167°F (1,186°C), to cone 6, 2,232°F (1,222°C), per AMACO's line page
- Bisque: Cone 04, 1,945°F (1,063°C)
- Finish: Glossy, transparent or semi-transparent; C-10 Snow is opaque
- Colors: 33 on AMACO's shop in October 2026 (C-01 Obsidian to C-65 Tangelo)
- Coats: 3 coats, per AMACO
- Sizes: Pint for every color we checked; gallon and 10 lb dry mix for some
- Mixing: "100% mixable" within the line
- Labels: AP or AP/CL, and a Food Safe seal, shown per color
The AMACO Celadon colors
| Group | Colors on AMACO's shop | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neutrals and mixers | C-01 Obsidian, C-03 Smoke, C-05 Charcoal, C-10 Snow, C-11 Mixing Clear | Shading, tinting, clear | C-05 showed out of stock when checked |
| Blues | C-19 Glacier, C-20 Cobalt, C-21 Sky, C-22 Fog, C-23 Ice, C-25 Downpour, C-26 Lagoon, C-27 Storm, C-29 Deep Sea, C-40 Aqua | Classic celadon blues | Widest group in the line |
| Greens | C-24 Succulent, C-41 Pear, C-42 Saguaro, C-43 Wasabi, C-47 Jade, C-49 Rainforest | Traditional celadon look | Jade is closest to the classic green |
| Warm tones | C-32 Ochre, C-33 Sandalwood, C-36 Iron, C-60 Marigold, C-65 Tangelo | Earthy and bright warm colors | Good over buff clay |
| Pinks, reds and purples | C-50 Cherry Blossom, C-52 Red Rock, C-53 Weeping Plum, C-54 Snapdragon, C-55 Poppy, C-56 Lavender, C-57 Mulberry | Bright color with depth | Cherry Blossom appears in AMACO's layering examples |
Do AMACO Celadons work at cone 6?
Yes. AMACO rates the Celadon line for cone 5 to 6 over cone 04 bisque, and cone 6 is the target most home potters use. Some individual color pages, such as C-20 Cobalt and C-10 Snow, also show a cone 10 mark, but AMACO's line page and Complete Guide present the line as mid-fire. If you want to fire higher, test first.
For a dependable cone 6 result, use a cone 6 clay body and a schedule that actually reaches the cone. Our cone 6 firing schedule guide and pyrometric cones explainer help you check that.
Mixing your own colors
AMACO calls every Celadon "100% mixable". C-11 Mixing Clear was "originally formulated to dilute the color of Celadon series glazes", so adding it makes a color paler and more transparent. C-10 Snow is a glossy, opaque white that AMACO says "can be used to tint the colors of other AMACO Celadon glazes", giving softer, milkier versions.
Mix by measured volume, label the jar with the ratio, and fire a test tile before glazing a full set. Mixed colors are new glazes as far as food safety goes.
How to apply AMACO Celadons
- Start with clean bisque fired to cone 04, wiped with a damp sponge to remove dust.
- Stir the jar well; transparent glazes show uneven mixing as streaks.
- Brush three coats, as AMACO recommends, letting each coat dry before the next. See our brushing glaze guide.
- Push extra glaze into carving or texture; that is where the color deepens.
- Keep glaze off the foot and wax the bottom (wax resist), then fire to cone 5 to 6.
C-20 Cobalt
AMACO describes C-20 as "a deep, glossy cobalt blue that pools and accents textured ware". It is also the base under PC-32 Albany Slip Brown in one of AMACO's published layering combinations.
- Finish: Semi-transparent gloss
- Sizes: Pint, gallon, 10 lb dry mix
- Labels: AP/CL marks shown; not for spraying per AMACO's page
Pros
- Strong blue that shows texture
- Works alone or as a layering base
- Dry mix available
Cons
- Not for spraying
- Dark enough to hide fine detail on dark clay
Who should skip it: Potters who want a pale, traditional green celadon.
C-47 Jade
Jade is "a cool, glossy emerald green", the color in the line that is closest to the traditional celadon look. It suits carved and fluted forms where the green can pool.
If you are looking for a celadon jade color, the soft jade-like green that made Korean and Chinese celadons famous, C-47 is AMACO's nearest match at cone 5 to 6. It reads deeper where it pools in carving and lighter on edges. On white stoneware or porcelain it stays closest to AMACO's photo; on buff clay it warms and darkens, so test on your own body first.
- Finish: Semi-transparent gloss
- Sizes: Pint, 10 lb dry mix
- Labels: AP/CL marks shown; check the Food Safe seal on the product page
Pros
- Classic celadon green
- Pools well in carving
- Mixable with Snow or Mixing Clear
Cons
- No gallon listed when checked
- Food safe seal not confirmed from our check
Who should skip it: Anyone who wants an opaque, solid color.
C-10 Snow
Snow is the odd one out: "a glossy, opaque white" that AMACO says can tint other Celadons. It is also the base in AMACO's published combination of C-50 Cherry Blossom over C-10 Snow.
- Finish: Opaque gloss
- Sizes: Pint, gallon, 10 lb dry mix
- Labels: AP mark shown; not for spraying per AMACO's page
Pros
- Makes pastel versions of any Celadon
- Clean white base for layering
Cons
- Opaque, so it hides texture
- Not a clear
Who should skip it: Potters who only want transparent color.
C-11 Mixing Clear
Mixing Clear thins Celadon colors and works as a stand-alone clear: "a stiff gloss zinc-free glaze that works well with most underglazes". AMACO notes it can mute V-315 Peach, V-316 Light Pink and V-323 Salmon Velvet underglazes.
- Finish: Transparent gloss, zinc free
- Sizes: Pint, gallon, 10 lb dry mix
Pros
- Clear and diluter in one
- Stiff, so underglaze lines stay sharp
Cons
- Mutes some pink and peach underglazes
Who should skip it: Cone 05 potters.
Choosing a clay body for celadons
Because celadons are transparent, the clay underneath is part of the color. A white stoneware or porcelain shows the glaze closest to AMACO's photos. A buff or speckled stoneware warms and darkens the color, and speckles show through the glaze. Neither is wrong, but test on the clay you actually use.
Match the clay to the glaze's cone as well: a cone 5 to 6 body under a cone 5 to 6 glaze. Our stoneware clay and porcelain clay pages compare common bodies.
Food safety on AMACO Celadons
AMACO's line page marks the Celadons as food safe, and individual color pages carry the Food Safe seal, which AMACO says means FDA guidelines for a food safe surface have been met. Our check of color pages did not show the same set of marks on every color, so confirm the seal for the exact color you plan to use inside a mug or bowl.
The label applies to the glaze fired alone to cone 5 to 6. Mixed colors, layered combinations and glazes on an unknown clay body are untested. Dry mixes carry a silica warning: mix with a NIOSH-approved respirator and wet clean. See our food safe glaze guide.
What AMACO Celadons do well, and weak points
They do three things well: transparent color that rewards texture, a mixable system that stretches a small palette, and a dependable base for AMACO glaze layering. Pints, gallons and dry mixes cover both brushing and dipping.
The weak points are labeling that varies by color, a transparent finish that shows uneven brushing, and AMACO's warning that dry dipping versions are "difficult to layer" and need testing.
Who should buy, and who should skip
Buy AMACO Celadons if you fire to cone 6, carve or stamp your pots, or want a base for Potter's Choice layering. Skip them if you fire to cone 05, if your forms are smooth and you want solid color, or if you want a single dipping glaze for production. In that case, compare AMACO Satin Matte or the opaque colors in Potter's Choice, which also includes PC-40 True Celadon.
Sources: AMACO shop line page for Celadon (two pages of colors); AMACO product pages for C-10 Snow, C-11 Mixing Clear, C-20 Cobalt, C-47 Jade and C-50 Cherry Blossom; AMACO Complete Guide to Clay, Glazes and Underglazes (amaco.com); AMACO homepage layering links. Research-based, not hands-on. Specs checked October 2026.