Martin Howard on mon 9 oct 00
Cindy asks:-
what is a Roman kiln, and why would you want to fire in one?
Well, for the last two years East Anglian Potters have had a summer camp in
which a Roman Kiln, as well as five other kinds of kiln, were formed, set
and fired in the field next to a fellow member's home at Mill Barn Farm,
Shotley, Suffolk.
The roman kiln is described in the book Pottery in Roman Britain by Guy de
la Bedoyere, published by Shire, ISBN 0 7478 0469 9.
The basic plan is that an oval shaped area is dug out. Half is formed into
the kiln and the other half, the windward half, is the area for the stokers
to stand and get roasted. The wood is put in the stoking hole, slowly and
only up to half its area, so that sufficient air can get in and be pulled
through the firebox and upwards through the ware.
The ware sits on a perforated clay table above the lower area where the hot
gases circulate. The upper area of ware is then covered with old crock,
turf, etc. It can be closed when 700 or if your lucky 800 degrees have been
reached for reduction or left open for oxidation.
Last year we closed it at about 700 because the stokers, slaves, were
suffering from heat stroke and the supply of slaves was limited :-)
The next week it was opened and the ware taken out. What was particularly
interesting was that most was black or dark grey and very hard and durable,
but some identical pots, next to the grey pots stayed red with no reduction
at all.
Why do it? As an historical experience and to gain knowledge of just how the
Romans did it? It has certainly given me ideas about terra sigilata and
burnished ware. Remember, the Romans did not have glaze, so there wasn't the
problem of wares touching each other. They did fire samian and black
burnished ware in tremendous quantity for export to England and elsewhere,
because of the demand. The Roman order was very hierarchical and the upper
classes would show off their polished red Samian ware.
Then local potters took up the idea, to get in on that lucrative market but
did not have the right clay or knowledge to accurately produce the same
Samian result.
I have been asked to attend a Roman Firing at Harlow Museum on Friday 20th
October. Anyone interested in being there can write to the Museum Officer,
Chris Lydamore on chris.lydamore@harlow.gov.uk
At a Council for British Archaeology meeting in Braintree on Roman Towns of
Essex, it was interesting to note the fascination that historians and
archaeologists have in pottery, because of its dating properties, but also
their relative lack of knowledge of pottery methodology. This was shown in
recent TV Time Team programmes where Beryl Hines, member of EAPA and
organiser of our Roman Kiln at Summer camp, was explaining that
archaeologists rarely take note of things that a trained potter would. So we
are often in the position that evidence which was or might have been there,
was overlooked, because of the different aims of the two disciplines.
I find the joining of disciplines, ideas etc part of my discipline as a
potter and a former town planner. Therefore I find it difficult to
understand otherwise well educated people who travel on straight tram lines,
looking neither left or right. But their dedication to the one aim does get
results that the rest of use should then use and spread out.
Looking forward to being a two legged pyrometer slave again.
Martin Howard
Webb's Cottage Pottery
Woolpits Road, Great Saling
BRAINTREE, Essex CM7 5DZ
England
martin@webbscottage.co.uk
Marcia Selsor on mon 9 oct 00
Martin Howard described:
>
> The roman kiln is described in the book Pottery in Roman Britain by Guy de
> la Bedoyere, published by Shire, ISBN 0 7478 0469 9.
> The basic plan is that an oval shaped area is dug out. Half is formed into
> the kiln and the other half, the windward half, is the area for the stokers
> to stand and get roasted. The wood is put in the stoking hole, slowly and
> only up to half its area, so that sufficient air can get in and be pulled
> through the firebox and upwards through the ware.
> The ware sits on a perforated clay table above the lower area where the hot
> gases circulate. The upper area of ware is then covered with old crock,
> turf, etc. It can be closed when 700 or if your lucky 800 degrees have been
> reached for reduction or left open for oxidation.
>
> Dear Martin,
I saw one of these still being used in Bonxe in Galicia in Spain. I also
saw a dig where a roman pottery was found in Denia in Valencia province.
That kiln was much bigger and had a very interesting interior arch
support system. This was similar to the first two levels of the three
story kiln still used by potters in Agost Spain. I have written articles
for the British Archaeology Reports back in the '80s about thses kilns.
They were used for the production of lesser valuable pots like amphorae
and storage vessels as well as tiles. Sounds like your firing was very
interesting too.
Best wishes,
Marcia
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--
Marcia Selsor
selsor@imt.net
http://www.imt.net/~mjbmls
http://www.imt.net/~mjbmls/spain99.html
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