the last firing this year

I opened up my last firing this year today. packing and glazing was a rush job on Sunday, but the firing went well, was about two hours quicker than usual, and less trouble. I kept the gas on the same pressure all the way up from 1000C and reduction was steady, with a nice greeny orange flame. I had repaired the flue which was leaking, by placing ceramic blanket around it, and this seemed to work. unfortunately the arch is beginning to spread and sag, so I may well have to rebuild for safety’s sake – not quite what I want to do when rushing to make the pieces for the exhibition at the Lund gallery in January and February.

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the sunshine was surprisingly warm in and around the sheds, it was perfect weather for unpacking. I am very pleased with the pots. the two big bottles came out really well, especially this one.

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the combination of the fat rounded shoulders, the crazing of the porcelain over the main clay body and the combed texture make it very reminiscent of some old Chinese pieces.

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the pale bottle worked very well too. most of this firing was glazed with the copper/tin/dolomite  and the rust accretion wood ash glazes. when I was glazing the pots it was tipping down with rain and as the shino glaze bin is out in the open, there wasn’t much chance of using that.

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I fired one of the bowls as well, glazed with the double dip, copper/tin/dolomite overlapped with the rust accretion wood ash glaze. I am very pleased with it. its hard to make a good dish or bowl in a press mould, but by pinching upwards the top two inches around the rim, I think I have given it more life. this one has three tiny feet, to raise it up a little. a foot, or feet always help a bowl shape.

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the matt green on this funny little pot is absolutely perfect. it was on the bottom shelf, more or less in the middle of the kiln.

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this is the first time I have fired this industrial crank. it’s a good looking clay, with a robust grog texture and plenty of iron in it, but it is horrible to use. like trying to make a pot with a pile of wet sand. this one is glazed with the barium carbonate glaze. I used the rust accretion wood ash glaze on this clay too, and it suits it very well.

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this is the terracotta crank with the rust glaze on it. you can see the clay is fusing, as it is over-fired, but the metallic purplish colour blends in with the rusty glaze really well. so, last minute, done in a rush, almost an afterthought firing, and its one of the best.

you can see all the pots here

One Comment

  1. ooooh!!! The close up of the design on the dish #3 is great! Could not see it on the web page. This one “speaks” to me as well!! So many voices! :O LOL

    aispir2

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