Surface refinement
The surface refinement I use can be found in the nature (foliage, seed pots, blossoms etc.), in the kitchen (such as fruit and vegetable peels, coffee ground, tea leaves, sea salt, algae) or at a construction market.
Refinement
Four refined objects are ready for the pit fire (outside to the left: Butterflywing), three of which are standing in an open saggar of aluminium foil, surrounded by special ingredients.
Differential
Refined object: Differential
Pit
Objects in the pit, short before ignition. Only some minor finishings like more logs are still missing.
Blazing fire
I try to keep the fire ablaze like that for approx. 60 to 90 minutes.
Earth in Fire
The object "Earth" in the middle of a blazing fire.
Embers
After 90 minutes most of the logs are burnt to embers and the pit is glowing.
Cover
I cover most of the pit with two corrugated sheets. There has to be a small part that rests uncovered to let the oxygen circulate. In addition the cover allows for a very slow cooling of the pit, which is necessary to avoid cracks or breakage of the objects.
Cooling phase
I leave the pit to cool down for up to 24 hours.
After 24 hours
The corrugated sheet was taken away, the objects are lying in the still lukewarm ashes. For me this is the most thrilling and exciting moment of a pit-firing, because only now I'll get a first glimpse of the outcome.
Finishing
I rinse and scrub the objects thoroughly and then let them allow to dry well. Afterwards they'll get a finishing. Finally I rub beeswax or sealants over the object and give it a final polish.
Quality control
A last close and scrutinizing look prior to release. Artifacts which doesn't convince me completely, are being discarded.