What made you build your Anagam stove?
Most ceramicists nowadays use electrically heated kilns, which results in much more even and standardised results. Woodburning, which has been around for thousands of years, results in unmistakable traces of the process.
What makes Anagam ceramics so distinctive?
The vessels are directly exposed to the flickering fire. As the flames caress them, they deposit wooden ash. Combined with oxygen and minerals, it melts into natural glazes.
© Manfred Horvath
How often do you fire this kiln?
It is only possible to do so once a year. It takes a group effort of at least five people, and we have to work in shifts to stoke the fire for several days, feeding it wood constantly to achieve the temperatures of over 1,200 degrees.
How does it feel to see the results of this hard work?
After months of preparing the clay and the shapes, that first look into the oven after the firing is unforgettable. The materials we work with are so fragile, they require not just the mastery of fire but also the ability to deal with setbacks and disappointments.