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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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