What do you think?
Rate this book
Mastering Kilns and Firing: Raku, Pit and Barrel, Wood Firing, and More
Learn the key techniques, tips, and tricks for pit, barrel, raku, and wood firing.
Fall in love with flames, wood, and the effect that unique firing methods have on pottery . Move beyond the electric kiln and explore the dramatic surfaces of raku , the flashes of salt firing , and the rustic look of ash rivulets . In this book, Lindsay Oesterritter provides a crash course in the most accessible methods of alternative firing .
Raku firing requires minimal equipment and can easily be fueled with a standard propane tank. Likewise, pit and barrel firing do not require much in the way of initial investment. Yet all these techniques provide an immediate glimpse into the magic of firing. Bright reds and blues, dramatic black and white crackle, even metallic luster are instantly possible. For more experienced potters and studios looking to offer more, Oesterritter also explores wood-fired kilns . Drawing on years of experience and extensive interviews with fellow wood-fire potters, there is no comparable resource on the market.
Features on top potters working today get to the heart of specialty techniques and asides show firing variations and traditional kilns in different cultures around the world. A gallery of showstopping work from a diverse group of artists round out the package and inspire you to get started.
The Mastering Ceramics series is for artists who never stop learning. With compelling projects, expert insight, step-by-step photos, and galleries of work from today’s top artists, these books are the perfect studio companions. Also available from the Mastering Hand Building and Mastering the Potter's Wheel .
Fall in love with flames, wood, and the effect that unique firing methods have on pottery . Move beyond the electric kiln and explore the dramatic surfaces of raku , the flashes of salt firing , and the rustic look of ash rivulets . In this book, Lindsay Oesterritter provides a crash course in the most accessible methods of alternative firing .
Raku firing requires minimal equipment and can easily be fueled with a standard propane tank. Likewise, pit and barrel firing do not require much in the way of initial investment. Yet all these techniques provide an immediate glimpse into the magic of firing. Bright reds and blues, dramatic black and white crackle, even metallic luster are instantly possible. For more experienced potters and studios looking to offer more, Oesterritter also explores wood-fired kilns . Drawing on years of experience and extensive interviews with fellow wood-fire potters, there is no comparable resource on the market.
Features on top potters working today get to the heart of specialty techniques and asides show firing variations and traditional kilns in different cultures around the world. A gallery of showstopping work from a diverse group of artists round out the package and inspire you to get started.
The Mastering Ceramics series is for artists who never stop learning. With compelling projects, expert insight, step-by-step photos, and galleries of work from today’s top artists, these books are the perfect studio companions. Also available from the Mastering Hand Building and Mastering the Potter's Wheel .
192 pages, Hardcover
Published October 22, 2019
29 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 29, 2019
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Mastering Kilns and Firing: Raku, Pit and Barrel, Wood Firing, and More is a tutorial and pottery workshop reference with a stunning amount of in-depth technical information for the potter. Released 22nd Oct 2019 by Quarto on their Quarry imprint, it's 192 pages and available in hardcover format.
It's a beautifully photographed book with an abundance of clear photos and illustrations of kilns, firing pieces, setups (including interior shots of kilns), and process shots. There are also gallery sections in full color with other artists scattered throughout the book with pieces that are quite literally jaw droppingly gorgeous. Amazing stuff.
The introductory sections (~16% of the content), includes a great overview of studio safety, gear, equipment, and supplies. The following chapters cover kiln construction and considerations (the best treatment of the subject I've seen), separate very in-depth technical chapters on raku, pit & barrel, and wood firing, and further technique explorations.
It also includes a recipes section along with templates for studio record-keeping and a good cross referenced index. This entire book is full of useful information aimed at the professional working potter. This would make a superlative workshop/instruction book or dream book for those who aspire to be professional potters. There was a great deal of accessible information here for hobbyists or craftspeople also. I learned a lot about the processes involved in kiln construction and use which I have never previously considered, along with process photos of creating clay and slip. I have only previously used the materials provided, but the recipes contained in the book make my fingers itch wanting to experiment.
Five stars. This is a very well done treatise. I believe this will become a classic staple of the professional potter's workshop library.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Mastering Kilns and Firing: Raku, Pit and Barrel, Wood Firing, and More is a tutorial and pottery workshop reference with a stunning amount of in-depth technical information for the potter. Released 22nd Oct 2019 by Quarto on their Quarry imprint, it's 192 pages and available in hardcover format.
It's a beautifully photographed book with an abundance of clear photos and illustrations of kilns, firing pieces, setups (including interior shots of kilns), and process shots. There are also gallery sections in full color with other artists scattered throughout the book with pieces that are quite literally jaw droppingly gorgeous. Amazing stuff.
The introductory sections (~16% of the content), includes a great overview of studio safety, gear, equipment, and supplies. The following chapters cover kiln construction and considerations (the best treatment of the subject I've seen), separate very in-depth technical chapters on raku, pit & barrel, and wood firing, and further technique explorations.
It also includes a recipes section along with templates for studio record-keeping and a good cross referenced index. This entire book is full of useful information aimed at the professional working potter. This would make a superlative workshop/instruction book or dream book for those who aspire to be professional potters. There was a great deal of accessible information here for hobbyists or craftspeople also. I learned a lot about the processes involved in kiln construction and use which I have never previously considered, along with process photos of creating clay and slip. I have only previously used the materials provided, but the recipes contained in the book make my fingers itch wanting to experiment.
Five stars. This is a very well done treatise. I believe this will become a classic staple of the professional potter's workshop library.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
April 3, 2021
A beautiful book about different kinds of firing. I was a bit surprised she didn't discuss electric firing... her specialty is traditional wood firing, but you can do a saggar in an electric oven too! She also shares a few glaze recipes but without pictures and firing technique (gas, wood, oxidation or reduction)... so unless you already know the correct way of firing traditional recipes, you'll have to look that up.
This book is not for beginners, unless you are interested in some firing theory. However, don't get started with firing without following some classes first. I've been firing in a gas kiln for years for my raku pieces but the moment I'm building my own, I will join a building workshop first and learn from experienced potters.
A must have book for the experienced potter who has enough garden space (and bravery) to build their own traditional ovens.
This book is not for beginners, unless you are interested in some firing theory. However, don't get started with firing without following some classes first. I've been firing in a gas kiln for years for my raku pieces but the moment I'm building my own, I will join a building workshop first and learn from experienced potters.
A must have book for the experienced potter who has enough garden space (and bravery) to build their own traditional ovens.
September 21, 2025
Remarkably comprehensive overview of firing. I highly recommend it to anyone considering attempting building a kiln at home.
November 7, 2019
An excellent book for any potter to read, even if one doesn't do their own firing, this book gives a really fabulous insight into what happens to glazes and pots in a kiln, whether it is raku or conventional kiln. The information is very easy to understand, there is a gallery of fired works and how to build your own kiln and information on pit and raku firing. a real must for any potter.
Well written, good photos and good information
Well written, good photos and good information
November 17, 2019
This is a beautifully presented book with fabulous photographs. I am new to claywork and a newbie to firing, so this review comes from that perspective. I'm not sure that it is an indepth book on the subject, but it gives a clear introduction to kilns and methods of firing with an easy to read design. Probably a good book for beginners to kilns and firing.
I received a free digital copy via NetGalley, but the opinions expressed are my own.
I received a free digital copy via NetGalley, but the opinions expressed are my own.
November 11, 2019
Wow! Loads of info here. Too much for me, I am simply a beginner working with pottery. This book was great. Made me think about building a kiln, even tho I have my own electric one, which I don't know how to work. I will come back and buy this book when I get a little farther along. It certainly did give me enough information on making clay that I might try that.
November 4, 2019
While a beautiful book, it was not for beginners at all and I was confused on a lot of the terminology. Any ceramicist that is already into using kilns and wants more ideas of using ones at home would enjoy this book.
December 1, 2022
A must have book for those interested in firing clay
February 26, 2021
Really lovely book for instruction and guidance for alternative firings! I wanted to explore barrel firing on my own this summer and this book helped explain the different processes for many methods, including this one. I felt knowledgeable enough to do my own firing last week with great success (especially with no experience in alternative methods or a guide). I do have my own electric kiln so am not new to the game - based on this, I wouldn’t recommend this book for beginners as there is so much information I’m sure the terminology alone might be overwhelming. But for those looking to go deeper into a different branch of pottery, this is a great purchase. Will continue to read as needed as I continue to explore.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews