Medalta green-ring engobed stoneware plate

In 1938 when Ed Phillipson, the newly hired manager and, more important, ceramic engineer, redirected the production at the failing Medalta Potteries. He did it by leveraging his special knowledge in the use of engobes. An engobe is a thin porcelain-like layer applied to ware at the leather hard stage. He formulated a white engobe to fit their buff stoneware. After bisque firing pieces could be decorated as if they were porcelain. And they fired them high enough to vitrify the stoneware to give ware porcelain-like strength.