What is a Saggar?

A saggar is a container used during ceramic firing.  It was originally developed to enclose and protect ware from marks and damage from kiln debris, ash and flame in wood firing.  Around 200 years ago, potters decided to reverse this and today saggars are used to hold combustible material near the piece to create fumes which leads to marks and colours forming on the clay.

A saggar can be made from a variety of materials; in my practice I use aluminium foil, metal tins and bisqued clay containers as saggars. The saggar has two purposes, to help protect the piece from the extremes of the quick temperature rise and to contain the combustible materials near the piece to create a unique atmosphere that will allow impression to form

What is the process of Saggar firing?

Saggar firing results are best when the unfired piece has a smooth finish, by burnishing or with the application of terra sigillata. Terra sigillata is a very fine clay slip which is applied to the ware and polished to create a sheen. This provides a smooth surface that helps absorbs the fumes and smoke.

A wide range of organic materials can be used inside the saggar. I mostly use organic matter which I have sourced locally, such as gum leaves, bark, fruit peel, sawdust, banana tree leaves, hay, feathers, seaweed, macadamia nut shells, egg shells, pandanus fruit, palm leaves and really anything that I find lying on the ground on my property!

A variety of minerals and oxides can be combined with the organic material to add colour to the piece. Copper carbonate, copper sulphate, magnesium sulphate, ferric chloride and Iron oxide are some of the solutions I sometimes add to the Saggar.

Once the piece is placed in its Saggar or wrapped in foil and scattered with combustible material, it is fired in my Raku kiln to between 750 and 820 deg c. When cooled, it is cleaned and sealed with a quality stone sealer. The sealer provides water and stain resistance. A thin coating of bees wax is then applied and polished to enhance the sheen and provide a degree of protection.

Because Saggar and Raku fired ceramics are not food safe I prefer to make functional pots and vases suitable for plants, flowers or dried arrangements.

As an artist, what attracts me to Saggar firing?

The patterns of nature intrigue me and I find the process of Saggar firing emulate nature’s forces. I am inspired by the serendipitous nature and unpredictable results that occur as a result of this process. The results are unpredictable, sometimes surprising but always unique. Such is life.