Smoke blight
Fire and flame!
Smoke firing is a method of firing ceramics in an open fire that has been in use since early times. People from a wide variety of cultures and regions around the world have used it to harden their ceramics and still do so today. The flames conjure up unmistakable traces and patterns on the unglazed surface of the ceramics.
Before firing, the exhibits are polished for a long time with a suitable stone to achieve a shimmering sheen and to make the body (a general term for a fired ceramic mass) more impermeable to water. The subsequent firing then takes place in a barrel or even in a pit. For this purpose, the pieces are covered all around with natural materials such as sawdust, plant parts and other organic material, the top layer is set on fire and the whole thing is almost completely sealed with a lid or earth. The temperature is 950 - 1000 degrees.