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Porcelain Clay: There are many kinds of clay, like earthenware, terra cotta and
stoneware, but we prefer to use porcelain clay because it is the strongest of all, and
the most beautiful. Porcelain is glassy and non-absorbent when fired to maturity. We
fire to cone 11, which is about 2400 degrees Fahrenheit. Our pottery is as durable
as restaurant ware!
Porcelain is white in color. It is the most expensive clay. It is also the most difficult to
work with. When glazed with a translucent or clear glaze, the whiteness of the clay
makes the glaze appear brighter than it would on stoneware. Stoneware has iron in it
that produces speckles and causes the glaze to darken. Porcelain gives glazes a
smooth clean brilliant glaze surface.
Firing: We fire to cone 11 (2400 degrees F.) in a 100 cu. ft. gas kiln. The kiln is made
of steel, and lined with firebrick and ceramic fiber. We fire in a reducing atmosphere.
Peter Lane describes a reduction firing: "Reducing atmospheres are essential for the
development of certain colors such as the Celadons and copper reds. When
reduction is induced during the firing, carbon is deprived of oxygen, and combustion
is incomplete. This releases free carbon (visible as smoke), hungry for oxygen, and
the chemical reaction is continued with oxygen extracted from the coloring oxides
present in the glaze. These elements are thus reduced to their metallic state. The
intensity of the colors produced vary according to the percentages of oxides present,
the character of the base glaze and the amount of reduction obtained." (Lane, Peter,
Studio Porcelain, Pitman House Limited, London, 1980)
Safety: Fireborn pottery may be used in a dishwasher, microwave and oven. Avoid
sudden, extreme changes of temperature. You can place porcelain in a 325 degree
oven and then increase the temperature. When you remove an item from the oven
place it on a pad of wood, cloth or cork, not on a cold tile counter top. All our glazes
and our clay are lead and cadmium free.
Glazes: At Fireborn Studios we formulate our own glazes. Usually we begin with with
recipes from books of traditional glazes and then rework them to use contemporary
materials. We fine tune them until we get the desired color and correct glaze fit. We
do thousands of glaze tests and experiments.
Raw Materials: The materials we use are mined. Many of the materials are
sedimentary. As a deposit is excavated, the composition of the material shifts.
Change is a constant and it affects our glazes and clay. Often one or two of our
glazes is giving us problems. We constantly have to change our firing methods and
glaze formulas to keep our glazes consistent, and even then there is some shift over
time.
Glaze Color: Our glazes are finicky! Each glaze works best in a specific area of the
kiln where there is a particular atmosphere and temperature. Visualize the flames in
the kiln swirling around the pots. Just like in a campfire, the flames are constantly
changing as they lick the pots. This firing process produces beautiful variations which
add character and make each piece unique.
stoneware, but we prefer to use porcelain clay because it is the strongest of all, and
the most beautiful. Porcelain is glassy and non-absorbent when fired to maturity. We
fire to cone 11, which is about 2400 degrees Fahrenheit. Our pottery is as durable
as restaurant ware!
Porcelain is white in color. It is the most expensive clay. It is also the most difficult to
work with. When glazed with a translucent or clear glaze, the whiteness of the clay
makes the glaze appear brighter than it would on stoneware. Stoneware has iron in it
that produces speckles and causes the glaze to darken. Porcelain gives glazes a
smooth clean brilliant glaze surface.
Firing: We fire to cone 11 (2400 degrees F.) in a 100 cu. ft. gas kiln. The kiln is made
of steel, and lined with firebrick and ceramic fiber. We fire in a reducing atmosphere.
Peter Lane describes a reduction firing: "Reducing atmospheres are essential for the
development of certain colors such as the Celadons and copper reds. When
reduction is induced during the firing, carbon is deprived of oxygen, and combustion
is incomplete. This releases free carbon (visible as smoke), hungry for oxygen, and
the chemical reaction is continued with oxygen extracted from the coloring oxides
present in the glaze. These elements are thus reduced to their metallic state. The
intensity of the colors produced vary according to the percentages of oxides present,
the character of the base glaze and the amount of reduction obtained." (Lane, Peter,
Studio Porcelain, Pitman House Limited, London, 1980)
Safety: Fireborn pottery may be used in a dishwasher, microwave and oven. Avoid
sudden, extreme changes of temperature. You can place porcelain in a 325 degree
oven and then increase the temperature. When you remove an item from the oven
place it on a pad of wood, cloth or cork, not on a cold tile counter top. All our glazes
and our clay are lead and cadmium free.
Glazes: At Fireborn Studios we formulate our own glazes. Usually we begin with with
recipes from books of traditional glazes and then rework them to use contemporary
materials. We fine tune them until we get the desired color and correct glaze fit. We
do thousands of glaze tests and experiments.
Raw Materials: The materials we use are mined. Many of the materials are
sedimentary. As a deposit is excavated, the composition of the material shifts.
Change is a constant and it affects our glazes and clay. Often one or two of our
glazes is giving us problems. We constantly have to change our firing methods and
glaze formulas to keep our glazes consistent, and even then there is some shift over
time.
Glaze Color: Our glazes are finicky! Each glaze works best in a specific area of the
kiln where there is a particular atmosphere and temperature. Visualize the flames in
the kiln swirling around the pots. Just like in a campfire, the flames are constantly
changing as they lick the pots. This firing process produces beautiful variations which
add character and make each piece unique.
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Use the links on the left. Please explore this section if you are
taking classes.
taking classes.
For Current Students