At the Lilies War in the year 2000, there was a wonderful arts and sciences area that was heavily populated by the pottery workshop equipment and potters of all levels of experience. Graciously run by HL Genevieve, many people learned the art of throwing pots on a potters wheel.
With the assistance of Master Alan of Darkdale, HL Genevieve created a soda kiln (similar to a salt kiln) out of the mud of Lilies lake.
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Clay/mud slabs were made in large flat squares and let to dry during the course of the week. Once the slabs were dry, they were fit together with heavy wire and a hole was cut to allow the burner to be placed into the kiln. A kiln shelf was placed on short stilts and the kiln loaded with wares that had been thrown and dried during the course of the week |
During the firing, a lid made of a slab of mud was placed on the kiln with just a bit of a gap left for ventilation. As the flame in the kiln was increased during the firing, blue flame licked out of the kiln where the cracks of the joints were not completely sealed any longer with the mud/clay mortar. It was quite a sight, but not one that was easily photographed, unfortunately. Soda was introduced into the atmosphere of the kiln. Much like a salt firing, the soda vaporizes and leaves a film over the pots that is similar to the orange-peel effect that is achieved in a salt kiln. The soda is not toxic during vaporization, but salt is. This is why it was decided to use soda for this firing.