From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pit fired pottery is the oldest known method of firing clay-- and the ultimate source of all the modern firing variations used by potters. Unfired pots are nestled together in a pit in the ground and are then covered with burnable materials such as wood shavings, leaves, metal oxides, salts, sawdust and dried manure. The top of the pit may be protected with moist clay, shards, larger pieces of wood or metal baffles. The filled pit is then set on fire and carefully tended until most of the inner fuel has been consumed. The final pit temperature is generally low to moderate, approaching 2000 °F (1100 °C). This is in the range of temperatures used by ancient Native American potters or modern craftsmen producing earthenware. After cooling, pots are removed and cleaned to reveal dramatic patterns and colors left by ash and salt deposits. Pots may then be waxed and buffed to create a smooth glossy finish.

Staining pit fired ware through the application of horse hair was developed within the last 25 years by renowned New Mexico Potter, Michael Morier^{[citation needed]}. Michael learned the burnishing techniques from Pueblo tribes of the South West. Mr. Morier used pieces of polished agate to burnish greenware (unfired) pottery to a shine. The pots were then fired and as with raku, removed from the kiln while still extremely hot. Strands of horse hair are laid across hot pieces, leaving a linear burned carbon design. Many artists began incorporating it into their own styles, resulting in a wide variety of horsehair pottery available today.^{[citation needed]}

Other traditional pottery processes which have been revived or modified by modern potters include the Asian technique of raku, the use of containers known as saggars in gas and wood fired kilns, and the use of salt as a glaze raw material.

• Hamer, Frank and Janet. The Potter's Dictionary of Materials and Techniques. A & C Black Publishers, Limited, London, England, Third Edition 1991. ISBN 0-8122-3112-0.

• Southwestern Native American Pottery at the Holmes Museum of Anthropology
• Step-by-step throwing and pit firing instructions