woodfired.

There is a certain beauty to a woodfiring. The initial moments where everyone involved places a small log on the front fire. The first few hours of stoking and maintaining that fire, slowly bringing the temperature of the kiln up. Then the main stoking, bringing the heat up still further. It’s the middle of the night now. You work in shifts, it is sweaty and smelly and tiring.

Later still, or prehaps early into the next morning, the side stoking begins. Thin logs that have been drying for a year thrown into the side of the kiln. You are drenched in sweat now. Your clothes are sticking to you. There is a rythm to this work.

You reach out with your gloved hand.

Remove the brick covering the stoke hole.

Cast three or four logs into the hole.

Replace the brick.

Wait for the next stoke.

The heat that comes out each time that brick is removed is intense. It envelops you. The kiln master periodically checks the cones. Sharp teeth of glaze. Waiting for them to melt, waiting for that perfect temperature.

We reach that temperature at three in the morning, the witching hour, have a glass of wine and toast the kiln.

It will take days to fully cool down.

To see the result of all that effort.

But for now we sleep.

These photos were taken during a woodfiring at Cerdeira home for creativity in November 2024

james

january 2025