Ceramics Saggar Firing

The saggar can be made out of anything depending on the type of firing from the traditional refractory clay to newspaper.

Ceramics saggar firing.

The name may be a contraction of the word safeguard. A saggar is a type of kiln furniture. Then i either place the pot in and gently put other materials around the side of the pot or wrap and tie materials in place around the pot using copper wire reed or even string and then place it into the saggar. This excerpt came from our book naked raku and related bare clay techniques which is available in the ceramic arts shop.

Because the saggar protects the pot while firing it is not important to have a clay body that withstands the thermal shock of raku firing. It is a ceramic boxlike container used in the firing of pottery to enclose or protect ware being fired inside a kiln traditionally saggars were made primarily from fireclay. There are many things that will produce colors some better than others when placed in the pit. I put a bed of materials on the bottom of the saggar and place small crucibles made of clay containing salt around the bottom.

Saggar is a container used during the firing process to enclose or protect ware being fired inside a kiln. Saguaros have been used to protect or safeguard ware from open fire smoke gases and kiln debris. Saggar firing is the method of creating confined atmospheres within a container or saggar. Traditionally saggars were made primarily from fireclay.

This hands on technique will help all potter. Ceramic artist brenda mcmahon shows how to wrap a pot in a paper clay saggar in preparation for a saggar firing. Saggars have been used to protect or safeguard ware from open flame smoke gases and kiln debris. Saggar firing was originally developed to protect wares from ash slagging and flame flashing in wood firings but in contemporary use with clean burning gas firings the process is used in exactly the opposite way.

Here is a non exclusive list of colorants for pit firing or to be used inside of a saggar.