What is Reduction Firing? (And Why It Makes Pottery So Unique)

If you’ve ever noticed that some handmade pottery has more depth, variation, or softness in its surface, you’re probably seeing the result of how it was fired.

Not all ceramics are fired the same way.

Most pottery is fired in electric kilns with plenty of oxygen. This is called oxidation firing, and it produces clean, consistent results.

My work is different.

Most of my pieces are fired in a gas kiln in what’s called a reduction atmosphere.

In reduction firing, there isn’t enough oxygen in the kiln for the flame. So instead, the flame pulls oxygen from the clay and glaze themselves. That shift changes how the materials behave during the firing.

It’s not just heat shaping the piece - the atmosphere is actively influencing the final result.

At my studio, this happens at cone 10, which is a high-fire temperature of around 2300°F. At this level, heat and time work together to fully transform the clay and glaze.

One of the most interesting effects of reduction firing is how it changes the way metals in glazes appear.

For example:

• Iron can develop deeper browns, smoky tones, and soft variation

• Copper can shift dramatically - sometimes from green in oxidation to red in reduction

That means the exact same glaze can produce completely different results depending on how it’s fired.

Even within the same kiln load, no two pieces are ever identical. Placement in the kiln and the path of the flame can subtly affect how each piece turns out.

That’s why every piece I make ends up slightly one of a kind.

Reduction firing is part of what gives my work its depth and character and why no two pieces ever feel exactly the same.

If you’re curious to see how this process shows up in finished pieces, you can explore available work here → go to the shop