This handsomely illustrated survey of contemporary international artists and their approaches to smoke-fired pottery is an inspirational resource for ceramics devotees, from seasoned practitioners to curious collectors.

This book should appeal to a wide range of people but particularly those who would like to have a go at pottery without having to spend a lot of money on a kiln.

This book covers techniques of firing and finishing at low temperature without using glazes. Many ancient cultures and contemporary potters use methods of low firing, adding slips and burnishing pieces to create a more natural finish. The advantages are that it can be done without a kiln using old dustbins, pits dug out of the earth, or bonfires, meaning that providing you have outdoor space, it can be done on a low budget. This book is a step-by-step practical approach and beginner's guide, which focuses on how to do low firing and natural finishes, with many illustrations of beautiful work by contemporary makers. Chapters include burnishing, terra sigillata, smoke-firing, pit-firing, saggar firing and raku techniques.

" ... Included is a historical chapter, a how-to chapter, and a series of artist profiles that showcase pit fired ceramics of contemporary practitioners."--Page 2 of cover.

Covers such topics as the history and philosophy of raku, types of clay, forming techniques, firing, glazes and decoration. Types of kilns and kiln construction are also fully explained and the book includes a gallery of works from around the world along with updated clay and glaze recipes.