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Wood Ash & Flashing
When wood firing, the pots
literally sit in a river of flames. Wood ash carried by the flames, has a
profound effect on a pot’s surface.
On unglazed pottery, fly ash
accumulation can produce a natural but rustic glaze. The flames may also
impart a blush of toasty color known as
“flashing”.
Pottery that has been covered
with a glaze prior to firing is enriched by the sodium which is a component
of wood ash. Fly ash may leave a freckled pattern on the surface of any
glazed pot.
Wood firing effects are
unpredictable. Fly ash may settle on the shoulder and rims of pots. At the
end of a firing, fast flowing flames can make patterns by depositing ash on
the vertical sides of pots.
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