Joy Imai
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I’ve been a full time potter for more than 35 years and have been working with soda firing for the last three years. After years of doing raku pottery, it’s great to be back making functional high-fired pottery again, and doing something new, too.
Soda glazed pottery is closely related to the salt glazed pottery that German settlers brought to this country 300 years ago.
I spray a solution of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and water into a hot (2300 degrees F.) kiln, and the high heat causes the solution to break down into sodium vapor and carbon dioxide. The sodium vapor combines with elements in the clay and forms a “orange peel” textured glaze on the surface. The vapors follow the flame circulation in the kiln and “flashing” occurs on the pots. The results are always surprising! I like the unique way the firing process is recorded on each pot.
