AMACO Velvet Underglazes, 2 oz Jars, 12-Count Set No. 4, Assorted Colors, Cone 05-10 Review (2026)

Who this underglaze set is for

This 12 jar set of AMACO Velvet underglazes is aimed at potters who want a ready-to-use palette of dependable colors rather than mixing their own from raw pigments, which covers everyone from students in a classroom ceramics program to hobbyists and small studio potters decorating functional or sculptural work. Because the colors can be applied to wet clay, greenware or bisque, it fits into a range of different workflows, whether someone paints a design onto a piece before it is even bone dry or waits until after the first firing to add color. The assorted colors in Set No. 4 give a broad enough starting palette for most decorating projects without having to buy each color separately.

What the Cone range and velvet finish mean

AMACO rates these underglazes for the Cone 05/06 range typically used after a bisque firing, and the company notes that some colors stay true even fired as high as Cone 10, which gives potters some flexibility if their studio fires higher than a typical low fire school kiln. The name comes from the finish: left unglazed, Velvet underglazes have a soft, textured, matte look, which is a distinct decorative option rather than a limitation, since plenty of potters use that unglazed look as the finished surface. Covering the color with a clear matte or clear gloss glaze intensifies the color and gives a more traditional glossy or satin ceramic surface instead.

Applying and finishing pieces with this set

Because the underglaze works on wet clay, greenware and bisque, a potter can choose when in their process to add color, which is more flexible than a glaze that only goes on after bisque firing. AMACO notes the colors are intermixable, so the 12 jars in this set can be blended to expand the effective palette well beyond the colors straight from the jar. The company describes the underglaze as sprayable as well as brushable, giving another application option for larger or more even coverage on bigger pieces. For any piece meant to hold food or liquid, a clear glaze needs to go over the underglaze and the finished piece needs to be fired to full maturity for the glaze to do its job.

Set No. 4 versus other underglaze packs

Compared with a smaller variety pack like an 8 color underglaze set from another brand, this 12 jar AMACO set gives a wider starting palette and comes from a company with a long track record in ceramic glazes and underglazes rather than a newer brand. Against a similarly sized 12 pack from a competitor, the practical difference mostly comes down to the specific colors included and each brand's reputation for consistent, reliable color from batch to batch, which is where an established studio staple like AMACO's Velvet line tends to have an edge. The tradeoff of any fixed set like this one is that the 12 colors are locked in, so a potter who needs a specific shade not included has to buy an additional jar or set separately.

Verdict and who should look at a different set

This set suits potters and classrooms that want a reliable, intermixable palette of underglaze colors that works across wet clay, greenware and bisque, and that are comfortable working within the 12 assorted colors included in Set No. 4. It is a weaker fit for someone who needs one very specific shade not in this particular set, since the colors are fixed and buying a whole new set just for one color is an inefficient way to fill a gap. For most general decorating work, though, the range covered by these 12 jars combined with the ability to intermix them covers the large majority of what a potter is likely to need.

Frequently asked questions