Friday, February 25, 2011

Yesterday's firing ...





Not a bad firing yesterday, given that three small re-fire cups blew up and spread shrapnel everywhere. It's astonishing how far into the stack clay fragments can penetrate. I've had maybe one cone pack blow up on me in this kiln, but never a pot. Even a re-fire. Won't do that again ...
Aside from the artillery, though, it was a good firing. Lots of small vases, four side-handle teapots, a slab tray that may end up in the April show I'm doing in Boston, some black saggar-fired pots. Not a bad firing, all told.
It was a record for a short firing, also. No doubt the result of using the new silicon carbide shelves. The burners were turned on at 9 and shut down at 1:30. I might stretch out the firing a bit next time, but the glazes looked pretty much like they always do.
Here are a few photos: From top, slab tray with overlapping Shino and ash glazes; small vases with Shino, Oribe, Leach white ash and kaki glazes; waste clay vase with overlapping Shino glazes; side handle teapots.

9 comments:

nick friedman said...

Those shinos are looking great. What type of kiln are you firing?

Hollis Engley said...

Hello, Nick. I've got a 17cf gas-fueled downdraft from Olympic. Three burners on each side.

Tracey Broome said...

Wow wow wow!!!! Beautiful as always!
Love that slab tray!

cookingwithgas said...

your teapots look great!
Where are the juice cups!???

FetishGhost said...

The variation in the surface of the slab tray pulls me right in. Love the teapots!

yolande clark said...

Yes! I love all of it. Gorgeous.

Unknown said...

Delicious!! Your pots make me want to reach out and touch them.

Michèle Hastings said...

beautiful teapots! did i read your time right for firing...9 to 1:30? 4 1/2 hours!

Hollis Engley said...

Yes, Michele. Amazing, isn't it? My usual firing time in this kiln has been between six and seven hours, but the new silicon carbide shelves must make a huge difference. They should; they're lighter and less dense than the old cordierite shelves, which means they don't take as long to heat up. I worried about the firing being too short, but the glazes and clay bodies seemed to be just fine. It's still remarkably short, though.