-FIRED POTTERY
These pots have no glaze on them but have been rubbed with a rock, or burnished for several hours while they are still damp, creating the high sheen you see on the surface. After the pots have been burnished they are bisque fired, then taken to a local beach to be pit-fired. At the pit firing we dig a large pit in the sand first, then lay down a thick layer of sawdust. The pots are then nestled into the sawdust and covered with cow dung, newspaper, then wood. The fire is then lit and burns for several hours. When the pots are cool enough, they are removed from the coals, taken home and washed. Wax is rubbed onto the surface to bring out the shine. Many pots crack or break during this firing process. The colors on the surface of these pots are an imprint of what was next to the pot during the firing. Black is a result of the burning sawdust, the reds are from the fuming copper and salt sprinkled into the sawdust. Some of the pots have seaweed, copper wire or tape wrapped around them, creating a pattern. Each one is also different as a result of the flame on the surface. Because these pots have not been glazed, no water should be put in them. A damp cloth to wipe dust off is all that is needed for their care.
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