Some people find wood-fired purple clay teapots stunning, while others think they lose the original Beauty of purple clay. Ultimately, the choice is left to individual tea enthusiasts.
In addition to wood-fired pieces, there are also reduction-fired and ash-covered purple clay teapots. Today, we will cover all three techniques in one go.
Wood-Fired Purple Clay
The wood-firing (naked firing) process gradually increases temperature. On the first day of firing, a low-temperature smoking process begins, allowing the carbon released from the wood to fill the pores of the clay. Once the surface of the clay turns black due to the carbon, the temperature can be further increased. This process takes approximately 30 hours.
The characteristic of wood-firing is that ashes and flames directly enter the Kiln. Unlike conventional glazes, the falling ashes naturally adhere to the surface of the piece and, when fired at high temperatures, form a lustrous, rich, and layered natural ash glaze;
Molten or unmelted wood ash creates smooth or rough textures on the surface, along with various color changes, leaving traces of where the fire once resided. The result is natural and unadorned, unpredictable and non-repeatable.
The color and texture of a wood-fired Purple Clay Teapot depend not on human intervention but on fire and ash. While an artisan can guide the final product to some extent, it does not play a decisive role.
The making technique for such challenging and spontaneous wood-fired works is already dissolved in the symphony of interactions between humans and clay, kilns and wood, fire and ash. Each piece is unique, with one color going into the kiln and coming out in myriad hues.
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Purple Clay Reduction Firing
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Purple clay has abundant Iron content, which during firing, undergoes oxidation in the kiln, transforming iron into ferric oxide.
The principle of reduction firing: Once the kiln reaches a certain temperature, oxygen is reduced, creating an artificial oxygen-starved environment. The remaining oxygen continues to burn and is consumed.
The birth of a purple clay teapot involves the interaction between hands and clay and the dance between clay and fire. People often appreciate the skillful craftsmanship of purple clay artisans but may not realize how crucial the firing process is, serving as the finishing touch.
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Purple Clay Ash Covering
In early times, ash covering involved placing purple clay ware inside a kiln box filled with husks and sealing it before placing it at the bottom of a dragon kiln for firing.
To achieve ash covering, a purple clay teapot generally needs to be made of high-quality, pure clay. After Seasoning, these teapots can develop a color similar to that of ink jade. Some advanced collectors will take finished teapots and use the ash-covering technique to re-fire them for color alteration.
Differences Among the Three Techniques
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Ash covering uses carbon-rich materials as filler, while reduction firing occurs under oxygen-deprived conditions. Wood-firing uses wood as fuel, leading to unpredictable kiln transformations and the formation of natural glazes from plant ashes.
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Ash covering involves a reaction between iron oxide and carbon elements, reducing ferric oxide to ferrous oxide. Reduction firing occurs in a controlled reduction atmosphere where ferric oxide is fully reduced to ferrous oxide. The unpredictability of fire marks and ash glazes in wood-firing creates a unique natural beauty.
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The ash covering technique requires placing a fired teapot in a container and packing it with charcoal and other substances to create a small, sealed environment. For reduction firing, this step is unnecessary; controlling the oxygen levels in the kiln is sufficient, significantly increasing the success rate. The success of wood-fired works depends on the harmony between clay, fire, wood, and kiln.
# How to Choose Among the Three #
The same teapot can appear different under different firing temperatures and in different kilns. Ash covering, reduction firing, and wood-firing each have their unique charm.
Different firing techniques suit different preferences. If possible, tea enthusiasts are recommended to buy one of each and compare them after seasoning.
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