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Oxford University Kiln test anagama firings


  • Oxford University Kilns Project, Oxfordshire Oxford, England, OX2 8QQ United Kingdom (map)

October 2022

As I was looking at wood firing in the US, I found the Oxford University Kilns - they had an exhibition at the Japanese Embassy in February. I managed to join a group firing with Dan and Symy at the last minute in October - I was lucky to have cone 10 clay ready to go!

We did a reduction cool - which meant throwing in bits of bushes and wet wood after top temp, when we'd completely blocked up the kiln so no oxygen could get in. It was really interesting to work out the temperature rise - using hardwood vs softwood and air flow changes in the kiln to move the fire differently through the chamber, depending on what we needed at that point in the firing.

April 2023

We organised another wood firing in April, to be an all-female firing. It was so nice to fire with these girls! We ate well and had such a great time, even though the firing took forever - we had some damp wood which really slowed the temperature rise. Finally the cones fell and we did another reduction cool, for some nice crystallised surfaces.

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1 December

Soda Firing at East Creek, Oregon

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7 November

Rock Glazed Ceramics with Matthew Blakely