Wood Fired Woo Blue and Shino Swirl Mug
Wood Fired Woo Blue and Shino Swirl Mug
This handmade wood fired pottery mug celebrates the natural beauty of flame, ash, and clay. The warm earth tones of the unglazed stoneware are wrapped with a sweeping spiral of iron slip, while the interior and rim create a vibrant transition from shino orange, to creamy beige, down to a flush of soft blue that could only be achieved through the wood firing process.
Every angle reveals something different. The combination of exposed clay, flowing iron slip, and atmospheric firing creates a mug with quiet character – one that feels equally at home beside a morning coffee, an evening tea, or simply resting on a favorite shelf between uses. No two wood fired mugs will ever emerge from the kiln alike, making this piece completely one of a kind.
Details
This mug measures 4.5" tall, and 3.25" wide across the lip. It will hold 11 ounces when nearly full.
The interior of the mug is glazed in shino glaze, and the rim and top few inches is glazed in woo blue glaze. The bottom 2/3rds of the cup is unglazed, wood fired ceramic - which feels quite nice to touch. All of my pottery is microwave and dishwasher safe, unless otherwise noted.
Use
This mug is well suited for coffee, tea, hot chocolate, cider, or your favorite daily beverage. The gently swirled form rests comfortably in the hand, while the generous handle provides a secure, balanced grip. Beyond everyday use, it also makes a thoughtful gift for pottery collectors or anyone who appreciates handcrafted ceramics with the markings of a traditional wood firing.
Process
This pot was thrown on my pottery wheel using BMix clay, a white stoneware. While still wet, I applied a brown iron oxide slip (a liquid clay mixture) to the exterior. A rubber rib was used to press through the brown slip, forming the wet clay into a swirl shape. When the mug was leather hard (partially dry, wet but firm) I attached and shaped the handle by hand.
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.
