Wood firing at Oxford Kilns

I joined County Hall Pottery for a traditional wood firing at Oxford Kilns, taking part in a 68-hour anagama firing. Working in shifts around the clock, we continually stoked the kiln to maintain the fire and gradually reach the high temperatures needed for the firing.

One of the most rewarding aspects of wood firing is its unpredictability. As the flames move through the kiln, ash settles naturally onto the clay, melting into the surface to create rich natural glazes, while the atmosphere produces beautiful flashing and subtle variations in colour. Every piece emerges with its own character shaped by the journey through the fire.

For this project, I made a collection of small ceramic cats, along with bowls and cups. The cats were hand-built in buff stoneware, with some left unglazed to allow the natural wood ash to settle directly onto the surface, while others were finished with tenmoku or celadon glazes. The bowls were thrown in Staffordshire stoneware and glazed with a shino, while the cups were made in Reduction St Thomas clay and finished with a celadon glaze. All the pieces were placed throughout different areas of the kiln, allowing each of them to experience unique firing conditions and develop its own distinctive surface.