Ceramic Firing In A Campfire

Pit firing is an atmospheric process all of the colors and patterns are derived from the process and what is consume in the fire.

Ceramic firing in a campfire.

Pit firing is the original method for baking clay. An ordinary clay can only be turned into a pottery masterpiece at a temperature of more than 1000 f. Initially you need to set a campfire that has glowing red heat. This process is done typically in a hole in the ground or a pit pots are placed in the pit and burned.

It dates back nearly 30 000 years ago. This is far hotter than a household oven will reach but a well built campfire can get that hot if you have a place where you can safely and legally build a fire. As a ceramic major in school i was looking for ways to fire pieces at home and finally decided to try doing a fire pit firing the piece. This is the first firing i have ever tried to do at home.

It works as a kiln using a hole in the ground as insulation and fuel to reach temperatures around 2000 degrees farenheit. Understand why clay needs firing. When there is no equipment to measure such burning temperature here is the simple trick to know. It is a sign that the fire is super hot up to.

A first firing of this creates bisque or biscuit ware. Things to know all of the above methods require low firing clay school pottery clay is fine. A pit fire is the oldest known method of firing your pottery dating back to 29 000 bc. Smoke firing in a dustbin this is the method we tried.