When we fire pottery, we’re heating clay to make it strong and hard. But did you know that how we fire it can change the way it looks? One interesting method is firing in an oxygen-reduced environment. This can happen in a pit or with a special kind of kiln that uses gas.
In these lower oxygen conditions, the fire doesn’t get enough oxygen, which makes it behave differently. This can create cool smoke patterns on the pottery, giving it a unique and artistic appearance. The reduction of oxygen can also affect colors and textures, making each piece truly one-of-a-kind!
So, when you see pottery with unexpected designs, it might have been fired in a way that limited the oxygen. It’s like a secret ingredient that adds personality to the art!
