Stoneware, Crystalline and Alternative Fired Pottery
Handcrafted pottery made with passion
Types of Work
Pit fire
With this primitive firing technique pieces are placed in a "pit" and covered with wood and other combustible materials resulting in a wide range of colors and other effects
Saggar
This technique is similar to pit firing but more controlled. Individual pieces are placed within other sealed containers along with combustibles and colorants and then slowly heated to 1400 degrees.
raku
Naked Raku
A fast firing technique where pieces are heated to 1800 degrees in about 30 minutes and then removed for the kiln while. The hot pieces are placed in combustible materials that produce crackle patterns and metallic highlights.
Naked Raku
Crystalline
Naked Raku
A variation of raku firing where a slip is applied before glaze is applied to prevent the glaze from sticking to the pot. After cooling in a reduction can where smoke penetrates cracks in the glaze the glaze “pops” off leaving a satin finish.
Stoneware
Crystalline
Crystalline
Stoneware pieces are created using a clay from STARworks Ceramics (www.starworksnc.org) and fired to Cone 10 (2345F). This makes them very durable and able to stand up the the rigors of everyday use.
Crystalline
Crystalline
Crystalline
Crystalline glazes require a highly specialized form of glaze and firing. The glazes contain a high percentage of Zinc Oxide along with other colorants to facilitate crystal growth. During the firing the temperature is varied and held for long periods to allow time for the crystals to develop. No piece is ever the same