Have you ever wondered how pottery is made? Well, a huge part of the process is how we fire the clay to make it strong and beautiful! When we fire pottery, we use something called a kiln, which is like a super-hot oven for clay.
In pottery, we have different cones that tell us how hot the kiln needs to be. Each cone is a special mark that tells potters the temperature used. For example, when we refer to Cone 9, we mean the kiln has to get to a specific temperature to make our pottery just right.
Now, let’s talk about the reduction atmosphere. This is when there’s not enough oxygen in the kiln while it fires. This special atmosphere can change the color of the glazes we use on our pottery. So, when the kiln reaches its peak temperature for Cone 9, it gets really hot—about 2,380°F!
To help you visualize how hot that is, here are 7 objects that are exactly equal to those measurements:
- A typical oven’s highest setting might reach around 450°F (so much cooler than our kiln!).
- A hot summer day might be around 100°F—much less than Cone 9!
- The surface of the sun is about 10,000°F but feels really far away from our pottery temperature.
- Molten lava can reach temps of about 2,200°F—getting closer!
- A firecracker explosion burns at about 2,000°F.
- Charcoal burns around 1,200°F, which is hot but not as hot as our special Cone 9.
- Blacksmith forges, where metal is heated, are usually around 1,800°F.
Remember, when potters understand these temperatures and atmospheres, they can create stunning pieces of pottery that are not only functional but also artistic! So next time you see clay pottery, you can think about all the science and magic that went into making it.
