Ceramics Saggar Firing

Because the saggar protects the pot while firing it is not important to have a clay body that withstands the thermal shock of raku firing.

Ceramics saggar firing.

Traditionally saggars were made primarily from fireclay. The saggar can be made out of anything depending on the type of firing from the traditional refractory clay to newspaper. Saggars have been used to protect or safeguard ware from open flame smoke gases and kiln debris. This hands on technique will help all potter.

I put a bed of materials on the bottom of the saggar and place small crucibles made of clay containing salt around the bottom. Saggar is a container used during the firing process to enclose or protect ware being fired inside a kiln. This excerpt came from our book naked raku and related bare clay techniques which is available in the ceramic arts shop. It is a ceramic boxlike container used in the firing of pottery to enclose or protect ware being fired inside a kiln traditionally saggars were made primarily from fireclay.

Saguaros have been used to protect or safeguard ware from open fire smoke gases and kiln debris. Saggar firing is the method of creating confined atmospheres within a container or saggar. Here is a non exclusive list of colorants for pit firing or to be used inside of a saggar. Originally saggars were used to protect the finish from the debris flying around the firing chamber from the wood or coal fuel source.

There are many things that will produce colors some better than others when placed in the pit. A saggar is a type of kiln furniture. The name may be a contraction of the word safeguard. Ceramic artist brenda mcmahon shows how to wrap a pot in a paper clay saggar in preparation for a saggar firing.

The saggar takes the abuse of rapid thermal changes.