Ceramic Firing In A Campfire

Pit firing is an atmospheric process all of the colors and patterns are derived from the process and what is consume in the fire.

Ceramic firing in a campfire.

This is far hotter than a household oven will reach but a well built campfire can get that hot if you have a place where you can safely and legally build a fire. Initially you need to set a campfire that has glowing red heat. Pit fire clay a traditional method of firing pots in a pit. A first firing of this creates bisque or biscuit ware.

It dates back nearly 30 000 years ago. This process is done typically in a hole in the ground or a pit pots are placed in the pit and burned. Understand why clay needs firing. Although individual clays vary in their maturation temperature most clays will become earthenware ceramics at around 700 celsius or about 1300 fahrenheit.

When you first make a model it is called greenware. An ordinary clay can only be turned into a pottery masterpiece at a temperature of more than 1000 f. A pit fire is the oldest known method of firing your pottery dating back to 29 000 bc. It works as a kiln using a hole in the ground as insulation and fuel to reach temperatures around 2000 degrees farenheit.

This is the first firing i have ever tried to do at home. It is a sign that the fire is super hot up to. When there is no equipment to measure such burning temperature here is the simple trick to know. Pit firing is the original method for baking clay.