About Anagama Kilns:

With its origins dating back as far as 3000 B.C., the process of anagama kiln firing was introduced from China and Korea into Japan around 500 A.D.

Anagama is a Japanese term meaning ‘cave kiln.’

Built as a long structure sloping uphill, an anagama kiln is stoked with wood around the clock for about a week. Along with the high temperatures achieved by sustained burning, the wood fire produces fly ash and volatile salts which settle on the ceramic clay and melt into organic uncontrolled patterns. The convection of heat, flame, and ash determines the various patinas achieved. These patinas can have an immense range in color from dark to light and can produce a broad variety of effects from metallic and iridescent to coarse and gravelly all within the same piece.

Loading the kiln can take hours if not days of careful placement and stacking of work. Finally, the kiln is sealed shut at the entrance, leaving only a window for adding fuel.

This process of loading reminds me of the careful placement of a pharaoh's belongings into his tomb, to then be walled up for an eternity.

Likewise, the unloading of the kiln, after it has been fired for a week and then cools down for a week, is reminiscent to me of archaeologists excavating just such a repository of treasure, marveling at beautiful things they discover.

To fire an anagama kiln takes a team of people working in shifts over the course of many days. My thanks go out to all the other sculptors and potters who have shared in this effort with me and from whom I have learned so much.