The Complete Potter: Sawdust Firing [Hardcover]

Karin Hessenberg (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0812233018 | ISBN-13: 978-0812233018 | Publication Date: September 1, 1994

Sawdust firing is a random and unpredictable technique which depends for its color and effect not on glaze, but on a direct relationship between clay and fire. This book demonstrates the work of potters who have developed ways of controlling and exploiting this exciting technique. The attraction of sawdust firing for potters lies in the beautiful effects created on the surface of the clay as a result of the contact between body and smoke. In The Complete Potter: Sawdust Firing, Karin Hessenberg provides a brief introduction to the process, discussing the ways in which the clay and fire interact, and the range of color effects that can be achieved. She further examines various types of sawdust firing through the work of different potters, each of whom describes his or her methods and ideas. Illustrated in full color, this book will provide potters of all abilities with a thorough understanding of the techniques needed to achieve successful results.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This series of guides to specialized pottery techniques was originally published in England by Batsford. All three books are well illustrated with photographs and diagrams showing works in progress and finished pieces by contemporary artists. Suitable for advanced students and studio potters, they emphasize good technique and problem solving. Phethean's book on throwing pots on the wheel, the most conventional of the three, covers techniques familiar to most potters. Whyman emphasizes the special techniques and materials needed to work successfully with porcelain clay. Hessenberg discusses the procedures used by several artists who employ the unpredictable method of firing pottery in burning sawdust. Both Whyman's and Hessenberg's books have lists of suppliers in the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States, and Hessenberg also includes a glossary. These handy guides are recommended for most crafts collections.
Constance Ashmore Fairchild, formerly with Univ. of Illinois Lib., Urbana-Champaign
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Provides a brief introduction to this pottery process, discusses ways in which the clay and fire interact, and the color effects that can be achieved, and examines various types of sawdust firing through the work of different potters, who describe their methods. Illustrated with color and b&w photos."—Book News, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press (September 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812233018
• ISBN-13: 978-0812233018
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 10.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,156,098 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unglazed pottery made accessible, May 31, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Complete Potter: Sawdust Firing (Hardcover)

This text is a great reference for the potter beginning to work with unglazed firing techinques, and for the experienced potter seeking new ideas. There are slip recipes, definition explanations, and interviews with contemporary working artists. Beautiful photos intersperrsed throughout the text, both color and black and white, illustrate a number of technique results. A variety of kiln assemblies are described, including pit fire kilns and above ground models. Sawdust Firing is an interesting, easy read packed with information and a number of artist's personal preferences regarding their techniques. I highly recommend it to any individual curious about the art - this book makes unglazed firing very accessible, even to beginners.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars More How-Do Than How-To, May 28, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Complete Potter: Sawdust Firing (Hardcover)

"Sawdust Firing," through interviews with potters, sets forth how those potters do, rather than stepping through how-to's. This is NOT a book for beginners, except to give a taste of the medium. Brilliant photos of potters' works, 'though mostly UK potters and the editor's own, with a spattering from other countries. The vocabulary is distinctly UK-based, with some terms explained in the glossary. For a US reader, "ceramic fibre" may not instantly translate to "fiberglass," and "bin" to "garbage can." Having said all this, the book is worth the money just for the glimpses of Duncan Ross' work.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring, December 29, 2002

By 

"lazycreek2" (Mt Ida, AR United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Potter: Sawdust Firing (Hardcover)

This is one of my favorite books. It is not for a beginner. I do a lot of sawdust firing and find this book so inspiring and helpful. If you have some instruction on this firing technique and have an understanding of different clay bodies, this book will enable you to continue to experimenting and improving your results.