Saggar Fired Ceramics

See Brenda's Saggar Fired Ceramics For Sale

Saggar firing is a contemporary ceramic firing process that combines ancient traditions of pit-firing with European saggar kilns from the 16th century and American raku.
The end result of this exciting hybrid firing process is an unglazed vessel that contains soft vapor blushes with warm smoky surface that are both quiet and complex.

Brenda's saggar fired porcelain takes this art form one step further by incorporating a Japanese aesthetic with her work in both form and wild vine handles. Each porcelain vessel is hand thrown on the potter’s wheel, paying close attention to a strong, simple form that becomes a fine canvas for the complexity of the saggar surface.

Once the thrown vessel is dry, but not yet fired, Brenda hand polishes each piece up to 3 times with a river stone. This labor intensive burnishing process is directly rooted in and inspired by the ancient Native American techniques passed down by
Maria Martinez and the famous Anasazi pottery of the American southwest.

The porcelain vessels are then prepared for the magical alchemy of the saggar kiln. Each piece is carefully wrapped in natural materials, some of which is used for simple combustion, while others for the mineral fuming that will occur as it burns. Composing every detail directs the way the flame dances across the surface
and leaves its mark on the porcelain vessel.

Once cooled, the pottery is removed from the saggar kiln and cleaned. Many lids receive a wild vine handle, inspired by Japanese ceramic traditions of combining clay and wood. The wooden handles are attached to the lid with glass beads underneath in an elaborate
jewelry design.

This final layer of detail represents Brenda's joy as the maker, and holds surprise for the opener of these fine saggar fired porcelain vessels.

Brenda's Saggar Fired Ceramics For Sale

Brenda McMahon Ceramics
518.692.7742
Contact Brenda