17"- 17" - 15 1/2" [Sizes refer to left picture]: $250 each

     Most potters agree that wood firing creates a different aesthetic. Wood fired pots are valued for their wide range of natural patterns and textures. Every piece is specially prepared before loading in the kiln. Due to the melting of wood ash the pots can not be placed directly on the kiln floor or kiln shelves. A special clay mixture called wadding is used to support and separate the pottery from the surfaces to which they might stick. Even lids must not be left seated, therefore small wadding balls are used to raise the lids above the pots to allow the hot gases and ash to circulate throughout the inside.

     Often these wadding balls are positioned on the sides of the pot rather than the bottom to allow these pieces to be fired on their sides. Bowls are frequently fired upside down supported atop a brick or a bowl-stand with 3 pieces of wadding or sea shells. The contact points become part of the design by resisting gases and ash deposits during firing; thus creating interesting textures and flashing patterns. Sea shell marks are most evident inside the bowls and along the sides of the tall bottles. Shells turn to powder leaving an impression in the glaze. Sea shell marks and glaze runs are a very desirable characteristic found only in wood firing.