Firing Pottery in a Pit Kiln

By J. Egland-Anderson
Published on July 1, 1981
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A pit kiln can be a little finicky, so before firing pottery make sure you practice on expendable pieces. These are good quality pieces.
A pit kiln can be a little finicky, so before firing pottery make sure you practice on expendable pieces. These are good quality pieces.
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Make a
Make a "kiln" by placing pottery shards and sheet metal over the open flames.
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The simple pit kiln produced a casserole pot and lid. 
The simple pit kiln produced a casserole pot and lid. 
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Heat the earthenware around a pile of burning twigs and manure.
Heat the earthenware around a pile of burning twigs and manure.
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After the fire dies, uncover the finished pottery and allow it to cool. 
After the fire dies, uncover the finished pottery and allow it to cool. 
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A graceful vase also emerged from the kiln. 
A graceful vase also emerged from the kiln. 
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Finished pieces, fired and ready for use.
Finished pieces, fired and ready for use.
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Here is a decorative plate and pitcher (mostly concealed in the grass).
Here is a decorative plate and pitcher (mostly concealed in the grass).

In 1909 the head of an archaeological expedition in New Mexico asked Maria Martinez–a member of the San Ildefonso Pueblo–to duplicate several types of ancient pottery. With nothing to go on but a few shards the team had recovered, Maria accomplished the task by means of a very old technique that has been used, with slight variations, by primitive potters all over the world.

Firing pottery in an outdoor pit kiln like the one Maria constructed (to keep her reproductions as accurate as possible) is a method perfectly suited to the needs of today’s rural craftspeople, too. In fact, it can be built by anyone who has access to an open space, some dry cow or horse manure, twigs, scrap metal, and a supply of broken pottery.

Scavenge a Kiln

The necessary quantity of each of the above kiln-making materials will be easy to determine after the first firing, since any “recipe” mistakes made during the initial attempt can be adjusted the second time around. Needless to say, you won’t want to start with your best artwork. Fire only your expendable pieces on the trial run.

For a small firing of 10 six-inch pots, you should gather at least a large shopping bag full of twigs and one of manure. The scrap metal can be rusted roofing, large flattened cans, or old stovepipe and so forth. If no pottery shards are available, cracked ceramic dinnerware can be used as a substitute. Just keep in mind that you’ll need enough shards and scrap to prepare a layer of each under the to-be-fired pottery and over it.

Patience Makes Progress

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