Mastering the Gold Hold is essential for success with transparent gold-bearing pink, purple, and coral glasses. These colors demand care, but reward it with unmatched beauty and depth when fired correctly.
Many Bullseye transparent pink, purple, and coral glasses require a Gold Hold during their first firing to develop their intended color.
These glasses are strikers, meaning they develop color only after controlled heatwork. While most styles typically reach the target color using standard schedules, lighter transparent pinks, purples, and corals often require extended time at 1200 °F to fully develop color. Bullseye testing shows 1200 °F for 2 hours produces the most consistent results across different kilns and production dates.
Without a proper Gold Hold, results may include:
- Weak or absent color
- Blue or brown color casts
- Uneven or spotty appearance
This article includes Gold Hold required and recommended glass styles and information on how to test their behavior in your own kiln.
