In the beginning of August 2013 a week long workshop took place in Janja Gora, Croatia. It was all about wood firing ceramics in a special kiln called the anagama.
![](http://anjaslapnicar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/janjagama-1-2.jpg) |
Branko Šupica, the owner of kiln and atelier in Janja Gora and Lou Smedts, a ceramics guru |
![](http://anjaslapnicar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/janjagama-2-2.jpg) |
wood, prepared and cut into small pieces |
![](http://anjaslapnicar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/janjagama-3-2.jpg) |
a Lou Smedts chawan, also seen on a cover of a Chawan Expo magazine, now owned by Branko Šupica (he has a cupboard only and full of chawans in his living room) |
![](http://anjaslapnicar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/janjagama-4-2.jpg) |
Branko happily loading his favourite kiln |
![](http://anjaslapnicar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/janjagama-5-2.jpg) |
a journey of one of my vases |
![](http://anjaslapnicar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/janjagama-6-2.jpg) |
turned out as a nice spot in the kiln (the atmosphere along with its temperatures varies throughout the kiln) |
![](http://anjaslapnicar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/janjagama-1.jpg) |
my glazed pots waiting to be loaded |
![](http://anjaslapnicar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/janjagama-2.jpg) |
all things have protective layers so they don’t stick |
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Danijela Pešut, the lady of the house and a great ceramist |
![](http://anjaslapnicar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/janjagama-4.jpg) |
coffee breaks – balkan style as with real turkish coffe |
![](http://anjaslapnicar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/janjagama-5.jpg) |
the scenery was also amazing |
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Jinx, a true tornjak guarded my tent at night and I felt safe; later they told me he killed a wolf last year, so thank you J! |
![](http://anjaslapnicar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/janjagama-7.jpg) |
cones are indicators of temperatures; different cones bending or melting tell us the reached temperature |
![](http://anjaslapnicar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/janjagama-8.jpg) |
first five melted, last (cone 10) bent: my first cone 10 down! pyrometer’s top temperature: 1337°C |
![](http://anjaslapnicar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/janjagama-9.jpg) |
once the house and atelier will be finished, it will be beautiful |
![](http://anjaslapnicar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/janjagama-10.jpg) |
but the kiln and its house is very finished! |
![](http://anjaslapnicar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/janjagama-11.jpg) |
I played with shells, they make nice imprints |
![](http://anjaslapnicar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/janjagama-12.jpg) |
I have 2 new dessert plates now |
![](http://anjaslapnicar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/janjagama-13.jpg) |
it was also my time for loading, I wanted to learn all the rules |
![](http://anjaslapnicar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/janjagama-14.jpg) |
loaded, after several hours |
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SWUfF1teDN0/UhIBKaSaTiI/AAAAAAAABcQ/xyoVw6fLCSY/s320/janjagama-15.jpg) |
closed with bricks an doors, ready for morning firing |
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yXZOp4vkXMc/UhIBLg5nfRI/AAAAAAAABco/EtK5kSolVc8/s320/janjagama-16.jpg) |
next morning, Branko woke up early and collected local goods |
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d-CZCrwL7H4/UhIBLnlAGUI/AAAAAAAABcw/UVzfkXFdQVg/s320/janjagama-17.jpg) |
rakija as a celebration and start of firing |
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local goods as an offering to the kiln gods. religion: anagama |
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tjQFuMyy9T4/UhIBMfjj3dI/AAAAAAAABdI/2fFCFybW8IA/s320/janjagama-19.jpg) |
proud Branko with his guardian dog in front of his kiln |
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cutting of wood to start the fire was also a part of a ritual. but yet everything with anagama is. |
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zalq7GHOKAk/UhIBNtKx8BI/AAAAAAAABdc/2F38JsByk1c/s320/janjagama-21.jpg) |
she drank one cup of rakija too |
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tajvcbRvErU/UhIBNRsx6NI/AAAAAAAABdk/QiVx5ljXmwM/s320/janjagama-22.jpg) |
8:30 – ignition |
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and this is how you fire anagama, for 15 hours |
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AIDsk7e1Ywg/UhIBOeOBbgI/AAAAAAAABdw/ahoyW6bhmlk/s320/janjagama-24.jpg) |
when the flames cleared (every time the kiln digested the loaded bundle of wood) you could see the pots glowing; at its highest temperatures the glow was pure white, like looking into the Sun |
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S2gKQ0mN6DE/UhIBOr861II/AAAAAAAABds/3UWNV95h-MM/s320/janjagama-25.jpg) |
chimney started to glow, roof started to burn |
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s-jBQtHz4jQ/UhIBPGwJdNI/AAAAAAAABeE/f66kO39nWtI/s320/janjagama-26.jpg) |
master firerer |
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l5rJOfNCsPU/UhIBPtIoJLI/AAAAAAAABeM/6cONaGkrXwg/s320/janjagama-27.jpg) |
we finished in 15 hours, quite fast due to a good kiln and a small load |
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z-t0l9nBQzo/UhIBQQMRMGI/AAAAAAAABeY/RYjgcfWIYxw/s320/janjagama-29.jpg) |
after last load of wood, we closed the kiln with doors and holes with mud. now the final reduction takes place, making the glazes sooo beautiful |
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f73DHWeGpcQ/UhIBQiR0dUI/AAAAAAAABek/MTfnzhRgBeM/s320/janjagama-30.jpg) |
black smoke means heavy reduction |
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and now the five day long cooling and waiting begins. a photo of atelier |
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3gQxacIyUfw/UhIBROIkl8I/AAAAAAAABfM/F0hlXjqOc_A/s320/janjagama-32.jpg) |
i did some turning |
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tW_4bgYdufc/UhIBRomRNfI/AAAAAAAABe0/XMPPwvxNfzI/s320/janjagama-33.jpg) |
a visit to a local honey producer |
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Plaški church |
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k19eLep8KlE/UhIBScFucII/AAAAAAAABfE/aQU2Wys7WiQ/s320/janjagama-35.jpg) |
Dretulja spring |
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vcndrNYSMWU/UhIBTJtatcI/AAAAAAAABfg/wDrYKcMdcI8/s320/janjagama-37.jpg) |
Plitvice lakes |
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ja_Xa9Xdafw/UhIBSouL23I/AAAAAAAABfU/TXKcAocrByk/s320/janjagama-36.jpg) |
crew over Plaški view |
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t_g0N6Y7tec/UhIBTFQ4RyI/AAAAAAAABfc/CnR6ws8t95Y/s320/janjagama-38.jpg) |
and while waiting, I listened to Mr. Lou’s private lessons, as a real apprentice, as true ceramic geek. luckily for me, he loves to talk a lot about ceramics. he is a master, a teacher, a traveler, a ceramist with three Ph.Ds and a great man |
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ruq6RW5uURo/UhIBThbb1ZI/AAAAAAAABf8/XHXyci5G1e4/s320/janjagama-39.jpg) |
FINALLY! THE OPENING! drums had to be there |
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NA3CX7JAqEs/UhIBUC2VjyI/AAAAAAAABfw/Fv6b08vbmqI/s320/janjagama-40.jpg) |
a new ritual for the opening |
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4ollMV-9t1Y/UhIBU1XBMeI/AAAAAAAABgg/pjm3ppYEO7g/s320/janjagama-41.jpg) |
celebration time |
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hard working feet |
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see the blood? a rooster got killed. a sacrifice |
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fQSIlGO82vc/UhIBV2sPsEI/AAAAAAAABgU/F-k-nunViuI/s320/janjagama-44.jpg) |
we threw 9 kg of salt in the kiln, only these crystals were left on the floor |
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q3uh8RQGJD4/UhIBWA3mbFI/AAAAAAAABgc/q-CSCJp6HGM/s320/janjagama-45.jpg) |
sheep were working hard too, all covered in mud |
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cake! |
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he guarded the kiln well |
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gR8Qbkokn2E/UhIBW_6APII/AAAAAAAABgw/4FxsbFhAH68/s320/janjagama-48.jpg) |
and finally: the opening! |
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i2MCybzlAt0/UhIBYLtgh-I/AAAAAAAABhM/-wg80JWkCME/s320/janjagama-49.jpg) |
fired |
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all gathered |
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_sSd6_HacbA/UhIBYhS8jgI/AAAAAAAABhc/Y7ki4yTDiCo/s320/janjagama-51.jpg) |
well done not medium rare |
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m1i-ZB3BHvk/UhIBY-8zPPI/AAAAAAAABhw/YBi05DuC7RQ/s320/janjagama-52.jpg) |
to Peter |
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8MJ28OblKbU/UhIBZUinOVI/AAAAAAAABhk/10RM9ucu6mw/s320/janjagama-53.jpg) |
result is 10% success: chawan with tea dust glaze is amongst them |
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fUqUozW4T4U/UhIBZkvu4SI/AAAAAAAABhs/tioKbTnq2H0/s320/janjagama-54.jpg) |
chawan, porcelain, localy made celadon |
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qlsQYiJKDqM/UhIBaNo9x2I/AAAAAAAABiA/yJUcwLayPM4/s320/janjagama-55.jpg) |
chawan, from me for me |
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rd5Szw4DHkg/UhIBa7zJVFI/AAAAAAAABiI/SXFGbuJfuQ4/s320/janjagama-56.jpg) |
my new salad bowl with my new favourite glaze: flashing slip |
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cSPaP_jcfNA/UhIBapoReTI/AAAAAAAABiE/bXJOGZpXB_Y/s320/janjagama-57.jpg) |
ash melted into a green ash glaze, which dripped into chawan |