| Throughout history, clay has had many uses. Initially it | | | | The problem with this is that in a world that is |
| was used as a method for creating figurines and idols. | | | | increasingly dependent on natural gasses and a limited |
| Later, it became so much more and many of those | | | | supply there are many who feel this is an irresponsible |
| earlier uses for clay still remain today. One of which is | | | | method for heating kilns. Add to that the notions of |
| as the tool from which pottery is created. This allowed | | | | global warming and worries over pollution, many are |
| citizens of the world, centuries ago to store precious | | | | turning back to the trees for heat sources. The good |
| liquids, food, and other items and proves useful for | | | | news is that trees are a renewable source of energy |
| many reasons, as well as decorative, all these | | | | to fuel the fires of the kilns and they burn clean. Of |
| centuries later. | | | | course this isn't the one-size fits all solutions and it isn't |
| While it is widely believed that the firing of pottery is | | | | the answer that everyone has. There are still those |
| something that was learned very much by accident, it | | | | who use natural gas or electricity to fire pottery. Wood |
| is also widely understood that the idea of firing pottery | | | | is simply the choice that many artisans and craftsmen |
| spread like wildfire, if you'll pardon the pun. In the | | | | (and women of course) are making in order to do their |
| beginning the firing of pottery was intended only to | | | | part to save the planet. |
| strengthen the pottery rather than as a decorative | | | | That being said, wood firing is a very time consuming |
| enhancement, though the strengthening was minimal | | | | process for firing pottery and involves no small amount |
| and the ability to enhance pottery creative and | | | | of labor. For this reason, expect to pay considerably |
| artistically was greatly improved. | | | | more for pottery pieces you purchase that are wood |
| As time moved on, as it inevitably does, various tribes | | | | fired. If you are planning to make your own pottery |
| and cultures made their own unique marks upon the | | | | you should definitely understand that wood firing is a |
| pottery of their people. Most recovered pottery | | | | very labor intensive process that requires constant |
| throughout history is easily recognizable according to | | | | monitoring of the fire and in many cases constant |
| tribe or people, not only because of the location in | | | | feeding of the fire in order to maintain the constant |
| which it was discovered but also as the result of the | | | | temperatures necessary to fire the pottery properly. |
| artistic markings that were made upon the pottery and, | | | | The results are beautiful pieces that have a low |
| in many cases, the method of firing the pottery that | | | | impact to Mother Earth in the long or short terms of |
| was used in the process of its creation. | | | | things. |
| Early pottery wasn't glazed because of the high, | | | | If you love the beauty of pottery and timeless appeal |
| sustained temperature that is required in order to glaze | | | | of owning something that is literally a piece of history in |
| pieces. It simply wasn't possible to regulate these | | | | modern form, then pottery is certainly a great way to |
| temperatures in early societies. It was several | | | | go. Throughout history pottery has proven to be both |
| centuries before kilns were created that would allow | | | | useful in a utilitarian sense and quite beautiful according |
| pottery makers to control the temperatures of the fire | | | | to the artists that created various pieces. Whether you |
| and reach the desired temperature to improve options | | | | are looking for purchase or create pottery for |
| for glazing these precious pieces of pottery. | | | | business or for pleasure be sure to keep in mind that |
| Quite a while later we began using natural gasses to | | | | wood firing is one of the choices that is available for |
| control and regulate the temperature for firing pottery. | | | | the creation of many remarkable pieces of pottery. |