An Anagama, or "cave kiln," is a traditional Japanese wood-fired pottery kiln with deep roots in ancient ceramic practices. As Ekta explained during her talk, part of this firing is the communal and ceremonial aspect to it. Gaining access to one - especially here in the UK - is a rare and exciting opportunity. Firing an Anagama is a highly skilled and labor-intensive process, involving specialised techniques to guide and control the flow of flame through the kiln. Robin will give us his full expertise and guide us through the whole process.

What makes the Anagama so unique is its design: the firebox and pottery chamber are part of a single continuous space, allowing flames and ash to move freely over the ceramic work. During the 3-day slow firing reaching 1300 degrees, the ash melts and settles on the pots, often forming natural ash glazes. The intense interaction between…