Slide 11: Kiln-Type Firing Method

Another, but less common, type of firing than that done on the bare ground employs a very simple type of kiln. The kiln consists of a low, circular, mud brick wall, from two to five feet high and as much as eighteen feet in diameter. Sometimes the kilns are reinforced, to prevent them from collapsing outward during the firing, with thick, braided ropes that are wrapped around the exterior of the kiln and covered with mud. More recently, potters have used heavy steel cables that they purchase in the city. In addition, heavy logs are often leaned against the kiln wall to prop it up. Some kilns are small enough that they do not need to be reinforced.

In all cases, the base of the kiln wall is pierced all around with small holes which provide air for the firing. Some kilns also have one or more larger holes that permit the addition of fuel during the course of the firing. Thus, those kilns resemble western types, where fuel is continually added to the fire to bring the charge up to the necessary temperature.

To prepare the kiln, a thick layer of fuel is laid over the bottom. Then, the dry pottery, interspersed with additional fuel, is piled on top until the charge has been built up to a rounded mass several feet higher than the kiln wall. The entire charge is then covered with large pieces of broken pottery that help retain some heat and protect the pottery from direct contact with cool air. The charge is lit from the bottom and all the fuel is consumed in from two to four hours. Small kilns permit the firing of one to five pots at a time. Larger kilns like those used by the Hausa in Northern Nigeria and the Mossi of Burkina Faso can fire one hundred pots or more in one charge.

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