Earthenware/smoke-fired examples
Earthenware is clay that is more porous than stoneware and is fired to a lower maturing temperature. The glazes used on earthenware are often bright colors because the relatively lower firing temperatures are conducive to retaining the color. Earthenware clay is often red/pink and the clay body we commonly associate with pots coming from the Southwest and Mexico.
I use earthenware clay for pots that are smoke-fired. Smoke-firing is a "primitive" method of decorating pots using the chemistry of reduction without glazes. Pots are burnished to a dull shine prior to being bisques. Once bisques, the pots are put in a pit or trash can and surrounded by combustible material. I use sawdust, wood shavings, and seaweed as my materials of choice. The top layer of material is ignited and then covered. A slow, smoky burn occurs over the next 8-16 hours. The smoke leaves a trail of carbon on the pot that is different every time. After the soot-covered pots are brushed off and given a thin layer of wax, the final surface gives off a red-black pattern that calls out to be touched. Smoke-fired pots are not glazed and should not be used to eat from so they are more suitable for decoration. That said, smoke-fired pots were used for many centuries by African and Native American cultures for their daily pottery.
I use earthenware clay for pots that are smoke-fired. Smoke-firing is a "primitive" method of decorating pots using the chemistry of reduction without glazes. Pots are burnished to a dull shine prior to being bisques. Once bisques, the pots are put in a pit or trash can and surrounded by combustible material. I use sawdust, wood shavings, and seaweed as my materials of choice. The top layer of material is ignited and then covered. A slow, smoky burn occurs over the next 8-16 hours. The smoke leaves a trail of carbon on the pot that is different every time. After the soot-covered pots are brushed off and given a thin layer of wax, the final surface gives off a red-black pattern that calls out to be touched. Smoke-fired pots are not glazed and should not be used to eat from so they are more suitable for decoration. That said, smoke-fired pots were used for many centuries by African and Native American cultures for their daily pottery.