Martie (AKA the Kiln Priestess) on thu 25 may 06
Dear Fredrick:
In your important posting of Wed., 24 May 2006 your asked, =93Dear Miss
Kiln Priestess:
I have been wondering if it is Ok to fire and glaze a kiln god or goddess?
Most all the ones I have ever seen were just greenware. Seems to me
that if they were inside the kiln they could keep an eye on things better.=94=
Fredrick, you have indeed asked a very important question, which because
of its complexity, I will answer in two parts. First of all, your
observation that most kiln gods are left to stand guard in their raw
unfired state is because kiln guardians are often spontaneously inspired
and executed with little or no attention paid to the technical points of
their production. Acting on an inner impulse that seems to guide the
ceramist=92s hands rather than on rational control, kiln gods are intended
to operate as effigies that through the power of their expression and
outward appearance can deflect and drive away evil influences and other
bad karma that might bring harm to the kiln and its contents. It is for
this reason that some kiln gods and goddess may not be suitably made to
withstand a kiln firing themselves.
Please bear in mind that we are discussing the creation and veneration of
Western kiln guardians, and that kiln gods in China and other Far Eastern
countries have very different kiln god customs. One similarity that the
kiln gods from the Blessed Potters=92 Temple in Jingdezhen, China, do share
with American kiln gods is that they too are made from unfired clay.
Although, the nine figures in this temple are almost life-size, they are
solid clay sculptures that are made from saggar clay that has been gilded.
The gilded sculptures are very imposing and powerful in their appearance.
Fredrick, if you think that your kiln guardians can withstand a normal
kiln firing then by all means you should fire them in the kiln with your
other ware. The only problem that could arise from this arrangement would
be that the protective range of your kiln gods might be limited to the
immediate area in, and around the kiln, and you could be left susceptible
to the effects of bad karma in the kiln yard and studio. Also, remember
that even if you fire your kiln gods so that they can be permanently
displayed, it is still important to make fresh ones for each new glaze
firing. Just as every step or process in the making of fine ceramics must
be adhered to for proper results, kiln spirits also need to be
consistently appreciated and attended to or else their powers will
diminish.
=ACI checked out your website and I think that you have done some nice work
with decals. You seem like a kind-hearted person and that is also a very
important trait to have if you wish to engage the help of kiln guardians
and attract good karma to the studio.
Miss Kiln Priestess
(AKA, Martie Geiger-Ho)
P.S. Please address all questions concerning proper kiln god and goddess
etiquette to Miss Kiln Priestess and she will do her best to answer you
with a written Clayart reply.
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