Wood Fired Swirl Planter Pot with Drainage
Wood Fired Swirl Planter Pot with Drainage
This handmade ceramic planter combines warm exposed clay with flowing atmospheric glaze for a look that feels both earthy and refined. The swirled and gently flared form sits atop an attached saucer, while soft blue and golden tan glaze gathers around the rim and drifts downward over the wood fired clay surface.
With its broad opening and balanced proportions, this planter is designed to beautifully showcase small houseplants, succulents, herbs, or trailing greenery. The attached saucer offers practical drainage while maintaining a clean, cohesive silhouette that works equally well indoors or outdoors.
Details
This planter stands approximately 4.25" tall and measures about 6" across the lip. The interior depth is just over 4", with a base measuring roughly 5.25" wide. There are 2 drainage holes about the size of a fingertip around the base of the planter. The attached saucer is built into the form to catch excess water while maintaining stability and ease of use. All of my pottery is food safe, microwave safe, and dishwasher safe.
Use
Perfect for succulents, herbs, small tropical plants, African violets, or other compact houseplants. The generous opening allows room for growth while the attached saucer helps simplify watering and plant care. Beyond its functional purpose, this planter brings natural texture and warmth to windowsills, shelves, desks, or plant collections.
Process
This planter was made on my potter’s wheel using Sonoran White, a stoneware clay. A swirl was added to the wet form to give the shape movement and texture. A drainage galley was thrown around the base, and two drainage holes were added for healthy drainage. The rim was glazed first in Goldspot glaze down the top inch, with a small band of Tenmoku added around the rim. The glazes melted and merged through the wood firing to create a pretty drippy golden tan and blue around the rim. The rest of the planter was left bare, to allow the wood kiln to leave it's mark.
This piece was fired in a wood-burning kiln at Desert Dragon Pottery Studio in North Phoenix. Unlike electric or gas kilns, wood firing relies entirely on burning wood to build heat and atmosphere inside the kiln. As the kiln is stoked, flame, ash, and minerals from the burning wood move naturally around the pottery, creating organic surface markings, flashing, and subtle color transitions that cannot be replicated through glazing alone.
The kiln used is a fast-fire wood kiln that reaches temperature in approximately 12 hours. The dynamic nature of wood firing means each piece responds differently to its placement within the kiln, resulting in truly one-of-a-kind works that capture the spontaneity and beauty of the firing process.
