Wood Fired Woo Blue and Brown Slip Textured Vase
Wood Fired Woo Blue and Brown Slip Textured Vase
No two sides of this wood fired vase tell quite the same story. One side glows with rich blues and soft lavender tones, while the opposite shows the warm golden ash and earthy flashes that only a wood kiln can create. View it from another angle and it becomes an entirely different piece.
Its graceful, elongated neck and gently rounded shoulder create an elegant silhouette, while the dramatic contrast across the surface celebrates the unpredictable beauty of wood firing. This is a vase that invites a closer look, revealing new colors and textures each time it catches the light.
Details
The vase stands approximately 9 inches tall and measures about 4 inches wide at the belly. The lip measures roughly 3.5 inches across, the necks smallest inner opening is a bit over 1.5 inches, and the base measures approximately 3.25 inches wide. All of my pottery is dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.
Use
Perfect for fresh flowers, dried stems, or simply displayed on its own, this vase is designed to be viewed from every side. Whether showcased on a mantel, bookshelf, dining table, or entryway, its changing surface creates visual interest that evolves as you rotate the piece. It works beautifully as both a functional flower vase and a sculptural object for collectors who appreciate the unique character of atmospheric-fired pottery.
Process
This vase was wheel thrown using Bmix clay, a smooth white stoneware. Brown slip (a blend of white clay, iron oxide and water) was painted around the belly of the vase to create the soft texture and color variation. The vase was glazed on the interior, around the rim and down the neck in Woo Blue glaze. The brown slip texture around the belly of the pot was left unglazed.
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.
