Primitive Fire Ceramics
Pit firing ceramics is fun! It’s also risky, because ceramics are more likely to crack in the raw fire because of the temperature inconsistency.
Learning about primitive firing was also my introduction to terra sigillata. Applying terra sigillata and burnishing in layers before pit firing creates a nice luster and shows off surface design effects better.
To create interesting surface effects, I experimented with several techniques, including wire wrapping, using organic materials like orange peels and coffee grounds, partial foil wrapping, and pressing fresh leaves to create imprints.
Copper wire wrapping
Small pit fired dish
burnished with terra sigillata containing blue mason stain
Small pit fired dish
with underglaze transfer paper and white terra sigillata
I played with combining the techniques of underglaze transfer sheets and primitive firing. After applying cut-out bits of the underglaze transfer paper, I applied a thin layer of white terra sigillata and burnished the dish before bisque firing. I was surprised to find after pit firing that the final result was a reversal of the values on the transfer paper, like a photo negative.
Primitive firing with leaf imprints
Leaf imprints are made by pressing fresh leaves onto bisque-fired ceramics and then wrapping the piece with aluminum foil. The foil keeps the leaves flat in place, but should have a small gap to allow smoke to sneak in and leave it’s mark.
