Prepare pots for a pit or barrel firing

Pit and barrel firing produce beautiful, unrepeatable effects through direct contact between pots and combustible materials. The preparation is where your artistic choices happen.

The work

1. Burnish two or three pots (unglazed, polished surfaces receive marks best)
2. Wrap them with copper wire (creates green/blue flashes)
3. Sprinkle with rock salt (creates orange spots where salt vapor hits)
4. Dust with copper carbonate (more green/blue marks)
5. Nest in sawdust and combustible material in a metal barrel or shallow pit

Placement matters

• Where the pot touches sawdust = darker carbonization
• Where it faces open flame = lighter
• Where chemicals rest against the surface = color flashes

Document your wrapping pattern

Take a photo before covering. After firing, you'll want to know what produced which marks.