Wood-Fired Stoneware and Porcelain

ISBN: 080198484X

Author: Troy, Jack

Condition: New

From the front flap of this 174 page book: "Good pots elude their critics and analysts - even the potters who formed them - by being more than the sum of their quantifiable parts. Nowhere are these indefinable elements more evident than in pots taken from the cold ashes of a wood fire. Whether they challenge or reinforce the beholder's values, these pots have a strong presence born of their many days' trial in the fire. The qualities unique to woodfired ceramics result from a complex drama involving human intentions, material properties, and a factor best known as 'the life of the fire'. Jack Troy invites the reader to join him in the quest to explore the elements of this challenging, fulfilling genre of ceramic expression. [The author] long ago made the discoveries that define his own work, then realized that every woodfiring ceramist engages in the process for uniquely personal reasons. Gently, Troy investigates, questions, and probes the ways that potters are working all over the world." The author discusses the different types of kilns and why they are chosen by certain potters. He further discusses which glazes are suitable for woodfiring and also delves into the historical basis for their use; also discussed are which clays are particularly appropriate for woodfire. "This authoritative book is the first to deal comprehensively with the historical, technical, and aesthetic aspects of woodfiring. Written so as to simultaneously raise and answer questions about the process. [This book] acknowledges the medium's ancient sources, while representing the work of many outstanding contemporary potters and sculptors from Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan, New Zealand, the U.K., and the U.S." This informative and interesting book includes dozens of photos showing the process of woodfiring and the finished products.