The Process of Anagama Wood Firing

"The Anagama kiln is a type of ancient pottery kiln brought to Japan from China over Korea in the 5th century. Anagama A (a Japanese term meaning" cave kiln ") consists of a combustion chamber with a firebox at one end and a Fang smoke on the other side. (Wikipedia). Ungebrannten ceramics are stacked in a barrel vaulted chamber with a "firebox" at one end and a chimney on the other side. The kiln is completely sealed, except for a small opening to stoke wood. An anagama works because the fire at one end produces a large amount of ash and is drawn through the chamber filled to the chimney. As the oven heats up to temperatures approaching 2300 � F (1400 � C) the ash is super heated and creates a natural glaze on the work.

Anagama Firing Process

An anagama is fueled with firewood. The kiln is fired continuously for about five days. This requires an enormous amount of wood, a good estimate is five to seven cords of wood. Wood is consumed in the fire very quickly and teams of potters are usually adding wood every few minutes around the clock for the entire firing.

In the beginning, the temperature rises slowly, so that the work does not crack from thermal shock. After about 800 � F, the temperature is increased until it reached the 2200-2300 � F-mark. It is at this temperature for about 36 hours. In this way, the ashes and embers to build in the pottery. After the cycle has reached an end, fuelling the hole is sealed and the oven stays cool for seven days.

After the kiln is cool, it is opened and the work can be unloaded. The wood fire process is very unpredictable. You are never sure when you unseal the kiln will have what happened. Pieces close to the combustion chamber can be extremely crusts ash, and the direction the back is nice warm shades of brown or orange or another color. The firing process is quite violent and sometimes the work is broken or cracked. It really is magical to unload the kiln and see what happens this time.

Due the enormous amount of work involved, anagama fired furnaces are generally only a few times a year. Some artists only once in the fire year.

 

Examples of Anagama Wood fire pottery
Article by Scott Bartolomei Edmonds

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