Firetrunk 1

The fire trunk stoves are concerned with making the effects of fire visible. The surface of fire trunk 1 bears traces of the flames that moved across it. The reduced fired copper glaze turns red or green depending on the flow of air through the kiln. I call these stoves “fire trunks” as a trunk often conserves something valuable.  I like the idea of the fire as something precious that has to be sheltered, but also tamed and controlled. 

.

The flow of air through the kiln is visible in the ceramic tiles. One can make out how the flames moved, where they faltered, where they thickened and how they pulled circles in the glowing heat. The hues of red indicate a lack of oxygen in the process of firing while the same glaze developed a watery green colour where oxygen rich air was pulled in through openings in the furnace.

.

The recipe states that four components are needed for the glaze: burnt copper, wood ash, clay powder and rock flour…. in the right mixing ratio of course. These are also the raw materials from which the entire oven is made of: it is constructed from clay tiles, stands on copper legs and inside it is full of ash. The wooden fire melts these grey, rough materials down to a colourful glaze that is as smooth as glass.

And as you sit together around the fire; as you watch the flames and warm yourselves maybe some thoughts, words or even hearts will melt together and turn into something more colourful.

.

.

.

.

.

.