There are TWO TYPE or Art Glazes.
One is a translucent like glaze. This is an "over glaze" according to Harvey Duke. I don't know too much about these. These are very different than the opaque art glazes I will describe below. You can see samples of these translucent glazes in the New Hall book (3rd edition) on page 299 (Blue with black trim and Green Art Glaze) and page 340 (Art glaze yellow).
Here is a picture of a Translucent Art Glaze Red and another color as well.
The other art glaze is a very opaque glaze. Below is information on these glazes
Chinese Red, Jonquil Yellow, Indian Red, Art Glaze Green, Midnight Blue
Notice they all have White behind the letters.
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In 1939 these items came in Chinese Red, Jonquil Yellow, Indian Red and Midnight Blue |
How was it made and why
In ceramics you can't make a true red at a high temperature like Hall China
uses. Hall's Chinese Red (and other art glazes?) color was on fired at 1350
degrees their regular firing Temperature is 2400 degrees. You can make brighter
colors at this decorating Temperature. (Everson Hall)
These are the colors of opaque glazes that I know
Chinese Red, Midnight Blue (don't confuse this with Marine), Jonquil Yellow
(Screaming yellow or citrus), Indian Red (Screaming orange), poppy, sunset,
mandarin red, an art glaze green (I have not found its name).
Note: Citron is a different yellow than Citrus! Citron comes on the two tone items and is not an art glaze
How to identify it
No one thing will tell you if it is an art glaze or not - but after you have seen a lot of it you can tell with a quick look. When I first saw the Art glaze green, I knew it was art glaze even though I had never seen it before. Just like when you spot a piece of Hall across the antique shop - you just "know".
 | The art glaze is much softer than the normal Hall glaze. It scratches and
gets rubbed much easier. It also chips easier. The screaming yellow is often
found crazed. |
| If you find the HSQK stamp on a completely UNDECORATED piece
(no gold decoration or wording at all and in dark blue, bright yellow, green or orange) suspect that it might be one
of the above art glazes. |
| Not all art glaze items have the HSQK mark. Hotpoint reds, New mark |
| The glaze is very opaque and even in the coloring; you will not see
a difference in color on the highlights. |
| Sometimes, but not always, the art glazes have what looks like a painted
on finish. |
| Often (but not always) the finish will have a bit of orange peel
texture. |
| Almost always white on the inside. (Not all things white on the inside
are art glaze). White showing on part of the item - Canisters - the background
under the letters is white. |
| Art Glaze is NOT tolerant of high heat. Do not use them in the oven or clean them in the dishwasher (at least not during the dry cycle). High heat will darken some colors and can also cause crazing. |
