Every one of our range of burnished pots is unique. The random smoked effects produced by the firing process used ensures that each item is individual and can never be exactly reproduced.
Making the Pot
The production of the burnished pot is very time consuming. The pot is thrown on the wheel using stoneware clay and then removed to allow it to dry to a firm cheese like state (usually referred to as “leather-hard”). It is then returned to the wheel where it is trimmed with metal tools, very similar to turning wood. The pot is then brushed over with two or three layers of “slip” (a liquid mixture of clay and water), usually terracotta but other colours are used on occasions. It is then left to dry and firm up a little, ready for the first burnishing.
Burnishing
Burnishing is the process of rubbing a smooth object, I prefer the back of a spoon, over the clay surface using a gentle circular motion. If done at the right stage of dryness the clay will take on a polish. The stage at which the first burnishing is done is crucial. If the clay surface is too soft the tool will leave marks on the surface. If the surface is too dry the tool will scratch the clay instead of smoothing and polishing it. The pot is allowed to dry a little more, the sheen obtained from the first burnishing diminishing somewhat. The surface is burnished again to regain the shine. The pot is allowed to dry out completely and the surface is coated with corn oil (ordinary cooking stuff) which is allowed to soak in to give a dry surface. This stage is a bit disconcerting the first time you do it as the shine disappears completely. Never fear! The pot is then burnished for the last time and a deep lustrous shine is developed which is brought to its final finish by rubbing gently with the hand or fingers.
Firing
The burnished, dry pots are fired slowly in an electric kiln, taking about eight hours to reach a top temperature of 850°C. This is hot enough to bring about the chemical changes which turn clay into pottery but not hot enough to destroy the smooth shiny surface so laboriously achieved. When cool enough to handle the pots are packed into a sawdust kiln for their subtle and unique colouring.
The Sawdust Firing
The sawdust firing takes place in a container made from loosely laid bricks, leaving small gaps for air. This makes it possible to construct a kiln of a size suitable for the size and number of the pots being fired. The pots are packed in wood shavings, having been filled with sawdust and shavings themselves, in layers, until the kiln is full. A fire is lit on top of the shavings and when everything is burning well, the kiln is covered and left to burn out. This can take anything from twelve hours to three days, depending on a number of factors. As the sawdust and wood shavings smoulder the smoke and fumes burn permanently into the clay surface. The colours which result are quite unpredictable being influenced by the type of sawdust used, the density of the packing, and the location of the pots within the kiln. Even the weather seems to be a major factor. Still, humid days produce a darker, more subtle range of browns and blacks while dry, breezy days produce a more dramatic range of colours, from oranges to black.
Finishing the Pots
When the sawdust kiln is completely cool the pots are washed to remove any surface ash and allowed to dry, after which the deep gloss and subtle markings are enhanced with an application of beeswax polish.
A Note of Caution
Because of the relatively low temperature of the firings the pots are not waterproof. If you wish to use them to hold flowers we suggest you use a glass container inside them or you could try sealing the inside of the pot with an acrylic varnish.
