Pit firing is my passion

This firing technique has become my passion. It involves taking naked bisque pots and letting the fire do it’s magic by transforming the pieces into works of art. Thrown pots or slab built cylinder forms are made by using corrugated cardboard and adding texture. Each piece is placed in a copper scrubby along with salts, copper sulfate, dog food and leftover chicken bones to a bed of sawdust in the bottom of a 55-gallon drum. Newspaper and kindling are ignited from the bottom of the barrel. After the pieces are fired, they are scrubbed and sealed with a floor or furniture paste wax. These pieces should be kept out of direct sunlight and are not food safe.

By Deborah J. Bassett-Maxwell

Graduate of Kendall College of Design, Grand Rapids, MI Owner of Red Mudd Studio, Kimball, MI

Leave a comment