Wood-firing
In addition to the pots that are thrown and fired in the electric kilns at our shop in downtown Fish Creek, we also maintain an inventory of wood-fired pieces. The pots are thrown and glazed at our shop and then transported to the kiln site about five miles away. The kiln is classified as an “anagama” or single-chambered kiln. It sits mostly above ground and looks much like the hull of an overturned boat.
After five years of firing a similar kiln, we designed and built our own anagama which we fired for the first time in September of 2006. The pots fired in this manner require an extraordinary amount of time to produce. Each firing requires the preparation of nearly four full cords of wood. Two days of loading precede the firing which continues around the clock with the kiln being stoked every 5-10 minutes for about four days. After four days of cooling, the kiln is unloaded and, with good fortune, produces approximately 650 pieces. Long exposure to the flames in the kiln produces beautiful flashes of color and natural ash glazes that reach a subtle elegance achieved by no other method.