firering kiln

kiln opening

From about 800 degrees Celsius we see flames being drawn through the whole oven and the ceramics are engulfed in a sea of flames, which gets more and more intense as the temperature rises. Wood is the only fuel which creates such a flow of flames. Fly ash gets deposited, which later becomes the glaze at the highest temperatures.

Firing with wood also creates the opportunity to adjust the chemical makeup of the atmosphere in the oven.  Between 9 – 1100 degrees Celsius we like to have less oxygen going into the oven: clay and glazes are being chemically ‘reduced’ – and we achieve finishes which would never be possible in an electric oven.

From 1200 degrees Celsius every piece of wood we throw in immediately bursts into flames, sizzling, hissing and crackling in a way that gives us a lot of childlike pleasure! Friends often come to visit us throughout the process, we might have a drink,  do a bit of work in the garden or discuss new projects.

Once the highest temperature, 1280 degrees Celsius, is reached, it is maintained for about an hour and by carefully controlling the supply of oxygen the glazes and colours become clear and beautiful. Firing takes close to 24 hours and means a lot of work, but gives us a lot of joy every time.