Low-firing and Burnishing
I'm always happy to see new books on alternative firing methods and low-temperature firing techniques! Sumi von Dassow takes a focused approach with her latest book, using burnishing as the constant for all the processes covered. Her experiences as a writer, artist, and educator shine in how the information flows from a history of burnishing to its many techniques, then followed by the firing and finishing options.She begins by addressing historical burnished pottery from China, the Mediterranean, Africa and North and South America, something that's very nice to see. With the focus of her book revolving around this kind of work, providing a diverse and rich history of its use and development sets the stage well for the content to follow. I believe the more informed you are about the history and use of a technique, the better off you are in trying to incorporate and adapt it to your own work.Von Dassow covers burnishing information to prepare the clay surface for all the low-firing techniques covered later. She gives advice for burnishing high-fire/stoneware clay, high-talc earthenware and leather-hard clay along with what tools and materials are most efficient. A wonderful 2-page compatibility chart matches burnishing approaches and low-firing techniques with different clay bodies. She then moves on to making, applying, and burnishing terra sigillata, and supplies recipes along with troubleshooting tips to assure good results.Different firing techniques get the most out of a burnished surface and three chapters are dedicated to this. Each chapter includes full-color images of work that range from contemporary to indigenous pots. Assorted combustibles, colorants, materials, tools and firing chambers are well covered for each firing technique giving the reader plenty of options to choose from. Von Dassow also does a wonderful job offering several variations of each firing technique. I'm a big fan of exploring different variables within a given technique to achieve a more nuanced look.In a chapter dedicated to smoke firing and black firing, Michael Wisner demonstrates a unique black firing method using a metal rack, manure, and a steel drum inside a gas kiln. Traditional indigenous techniques of the Mata Ortiz potters and Pueblo Native Americans for polychrome and black fired pottery are also demonstrated. A variety of pit firing methods in another chapter start from the basic small hole in the ground to firing in a large, deep pit. A Native American approach to firing out in the open on the ground is also featured.A chapter on using clay and foil saggars in electric, gas and raku kilns includes different stacking methods and combustible/colorant combinations to yield a wide variety of results. Raku techniques for horsehair firing as well as naked raku are covered in their typical steps. The final chapter explains how to treat a surface after it's fired, with paste wax, floor wax, tile sealer, varnishes, acrylic spray glaze, paint and gold leaf all shown as options.Although low-firing is used in the title, it's essentially an alternative firing book with burnishing as the theme to build most of the information around. Having this focus, though, is the book's strength and what makes it different from other fast-fire and alternative firing books.Overall the book is thorough in covering the techniques in an approach that is easy to follow and apply, with lots of useful recipes, material suggestions and firing variants. Anyone interested in expanding their alternative firing repertoire will find this a valuable resource to add to their bookshelf. I know I'll be adding it to mine. --Paul Wandless,Pottery Making IllustratedNov/Dec 2009