The anagama kiln

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The pots were fired in an anagama kiln. This is an ancient wood-fired kiln dating from 5th century Japan – and it came there from Korea and probably originated in China before that. The kiln is a sloping cave-like structure where the fire is at the bottom end and there is a chimney at the top. As the wood burns it generates temperatures of up to 1400°C (2550°F) and at this temperature the volatile minerals in the ash, carried in the flames, and in the clay itself, melt together to form a natural glaze. The final effect varies depending on the orientation of the pot within the kiln and its proximity to the fire. Before each pot is placed into the kiln it is given three little ‘feet’ made from balls of clay mixed with sawdust, to raise it up and keep it from sticking to the shelf (you can see these in the picture with my last post). Then the kiln is loaded by someone crawling inside and carefully placing each pot in position, making sure they are stable, upright and don’t touch each other. Loading two or three hundred pots takes a couple of days. Then the door is closed and the fire is lit. After that it is kept burning for about three days, and during these firing days the fire has to be tended constantly around the clock. The aim is to keep the temperature at 1200 to 1300°C (around 2200 to 2400°F). This certainly required a dedicated team of potters and helpers. When I arrived there were about six people working, two of them splitting logs to provide the seemingly endless stream of wood required, and two teams of two taking turns in shifts to tend the fire, wearing goggles and long leather gloves, constantly checking the temperature, feeding in more wood (either through the bottom door or a second one above it) every couple of minutes, and making sure it is burning cleanly and not getting clogged up with ash. This went on day and night – three people had brought tents to sleep between their shifts, while another slept in his car – he only woke up when someone tapped on the window thinking he might be dead The whole procedure reminded me of feeding a hungry monster! Once the kiln has been sustained at a high enough temperature for long enough, the fire is allowed to go out. Then the pots are left for a couple more days to cool. Only then do the potters find out the outcome of their work. This is definitely not instant gratification! If the outcome is acceptable then the feet are removed; during firing the sawdust in the little balls burns away leaving porous blobs that crumble off easily. The whole process feels ancient and almost primeval; the earth, the fire, the wood and the air combining to produce objects which are both useful and beautiful. I am looking forward to attending the exhibition in a couple of weeks to see the final display! All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2026.