11/03/2025
Last week, we had a wonderful visit to the University of West Georgia’s anagama kiln—a rare and exciting opportunity to see this traditional wood-fired kiln in action. Professor David Collins and his talented art students gave us an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour, sharing fascinating insights into the history, design, and firing process of the kiln, which draws inspiration from ancient Asian cave-kiln traditions.
They explained how the kiln can reach incredibly high temperatures of around 2400°F, and how it requires continuous stoking with wood during the multi-day firing process. We enjoyed learning how the ash from the burning wood melts onto the pottery, forming natural glazes, creating interesting surface textures, and adding beautiful colors. Since the anagama kiln at UWG is only fired once a year—in October—this visit was a special, not-to-be-missed experience.
