Smoke fired pottery
Here are examples of the primitive smoke firing technique applied to various art forms.
Flagons
Coil built. Glazed inside and top/bottom. Gold lustre applied onto glaze and fired to 750°C.
Oriental Vessel
Oriental style vessel with bamboo handle. White earthenware clay and grogged stoneware. Smoked finish.
Bulbous Vase
Red earthenware clay bulbous vase, glazed inside, smoked outside. 14" high.
Bowls
Red and white earthenware bowls. Fired to 950°C and smoke fired in sawdust. Coil built, 8" tall.
Three Textured Vases
Coil built in red or white earthenware. Necks textured using a woodcarving gouge. Glazed inside and smoked in sawdust. Fired to 1000°C.
Small Rimmed Bowl
Small smoked vessel with a glazed rim and interior – a lovely little pot for an 80th birthday present.
Coiled Vase
Red earthenware clay. Glazed inside, smoked outside. 14" high.
Rimmed Bowl
Earthenware bowl with a glazed rim and interior, smoked in many contrasting colours. A gift for a family member.
Coiled Vessel
Clay from a building site in Lizard Village. 20% medium grog added to improve workability and fired strength. Smoked. 13" diameter.
Lugged Vessel
Coil built using clay dug and refined from Lizard Village. Fired to 950°C. Smoked in sawdust kiln and waxed.
Skittle Vases
Coiled using red earthenware clay. Glazed inside, smoked outside.
Coiled Vases
Clay: equal parts white earthenware and grogged stoneware. Glazed inside. Smoked in a sawdust kiln.
Textured Vase
Red earthenware clay. Coiled and textured using a grooved wooden tool. Glazed inside. Smoked outside. 14" tall.
Pierced Vessels
Coil built. Fired to 950°C and smoked in sawdust.
Arum Lily
Coil built and based on the native plant found in woodlands – arum maculatum. White earthenware with yellow stain. Smoked in sawdust and wax finished.
Spherical Vessel
Coil built spherical vessel smoked in sawdust.
Terracotta Vessel
Coil built vessel smoked in sawdust.
Textured Vase
Coil built using red earthenware, glazed inside. Texture achieved by using a grooved wooden tool and a stiff brush. Fired to 1000°C and again smoked in a sawdust kiln.
Lugged Vessels
All made with clay from Lizard Village. Coil built – fired to 900°C and decorated with Elm twigs. Unglazed, 3"–6" tall. Sawdust smoked.
Terracotta Vase
Made from West Sussex clay. Burnished, fired to 1000°C and glazed inside with a lead glaze then smoked and waxed. Iron present in the clay makes it fire a lovely terracotta colour.