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Tuesday, 10 August, around 2 p.m.,
construction of the "paper" kiln and firing until the following day. The pottery will be taken out of the kiln at the end of the eclipse, the next day, Wednesday, 11 August, at exactly 12.45 p.m.
Tuesday, 10 August, around 8 p.m., and Wednesday, 11 August, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.,
several firings will be carried out in the "Raku" kiln.
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Firing and Auction of "Eclipse" Pottery!
On Wednesday, 11 August 1999, an end-of-the-millenium astronomic event will occur : a total solar eclipse. Sarreguemines will be affected by this sudden and spectacular phenomenon! A thrilling and moving two minutes and 19 seconds, an exceptional occasion not to be missed. Louis XIV, at the age of 14, contemplated the last one in Paris on 22 May 1724, and the next one will only be visible on 3 September 2081, in the morning!
As Sarreguemines is located on the central eclipse (the point when the centres of the sun and the moon are in line with the observer), it will be a perfect observation post to watch this rendez-vous between the Sun and the Moon for as long as possible.
In honour of this occasion, the Museum of Faience Techniques will be organizing on 10 and 11 August, at the Moulin de la Blies, two special days during which pottery will be fired in two different kilns : a "paper" kiln and a "Raku" kiln.
At precisely the moment when the sun, like a rising Phoenix, recovers its radiance at the end of the eclipse, the ashes of the kilns will give birth to a series of pottery with a highly emotional and symbolic value. These pieces of pottery, prepared, decorated and fired at a historic faience production site, will be stamped with the date and the emblem of the eclipse (there will be about 50 "Raku" pieces and 30 "paper" kiln pieces). They will then be sold to collectors and aficionados of faience during an auction organized at the site.
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Programme of the Pottery Firing
Tuesday, 19 August, around 2 p.m., construction of the paper kiln. During this operation a grid measuring 1.20 m x 1.20 m will be laid over the firing area and covered with a layer of charcoal and firewood. The pieces to be fired will be arranged on this bed, all wrapped up in sheets of kaolin paper dipped in barbotine (liquid clay). Everything will then be covered with barbotine-soaked paper (12 layers). This operation will last for about two hours. At this point, the combustible will be gradually lit, and the firing will continue until the following day. The pieces will be drawn out during the eclipse the next day.
Tuesday, 10 August, around 8 p.m., and Wednesday, 11 August, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.,
firing in the "Raku" kiln. The kiln will first be stoked with wood until it reaches a temperature of about 1000 degrees. In the meantime, the pottery pieces will have been decorated and enamelled. After preheating for a quarter of an hour, the pieces to be fired will be placed in the kiln with the help of tongs. The advantage of this method is that the fusion of the glaze can be observed. Every day, after half an hour, the pieces will be taken out of the kiln and immersed in water, to produce a network of cracks, and/or smoked, either to blacken them or to modify the colours ...
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The "Raku" Firing Technique
Historically, this is a Japanese technique which has been used since the 16th century to make bowls for the traditional tea ceremony. Even though it is still attached to its oriental origins from the ethical point of view, since 1958 this technique has been developed in the United States by Paul Soldner for purposes which have nothing to do with Japanese Raku ware.
Nowadays, this techniques consists in using pieces which have already undergone a biscuit fire at 800 degrees, enamelling them (vitrifiable decoration and colours), preheating them in a wood-fired kiln, and then placing them with the help of metal tongs in a red-hot kiln. After fusion of the glazes at a temperature of 900 to 1000 degrees, the pieces are removed with tongs while they are still incandescent, dipped in cold water ... or smoked ...
The Raku firing organized on these special days will provide many visitors with an opportunity to learn about a technique for making this kind of contemporary and attractive ceramic since all the phenomena linked to the firing can be observed directly. The kiln is stoked with wood and, like a blacksmith, the matter is shaped directly with the fire. Contrary to the usual firing techniques, this event will be a permanent and lively show.
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The "Paper" Kiln Technique
The "paper kiln", a complete break from the traditional types, offers a new direction for research relating to so-called "primitive" firing methods.
The kiln is constructed in the open air, and charcoal and firewood are used as fuel. Its only covering is a paper shell, used just once, to serve as an insulator.
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Practical Information
Moulin de la Blies,
Museum of Faience Techniques
Tel: 03 87 98 93 50 - Fax: 03 87 98 37 28
E-mail: museum@mairie-sarreguemines.fr
Opening hours: 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 6 p.m., every day
Tourist Office of Sarreguemines:
Tel: 03 87 98 80 81 - Fax: 03 87 98 25 77
E-mail: information@ot-sarreguemines.fr
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© Sarreguemines Museum — June 1999
Last updated 26/07/99
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