The ceramic bisque firing is the first firing in the ceramic process. It’s the transformation from clay into ceramics. It’s the essential intermediate step. Between hand-shaped clay and glazed work. After this firing, there is no turning back to the clay bin.

I hear people lyrically talking about their last raku firing. Tears of joy when digging for a pot from a pit fire. Trembling hands of anticipation when opening the kiln door after a glaze firing. But never exciting stories about the first firing. No cheers when the lid of a bisque kiln is lifted.

The bisque firing is the step child of ceramics. But the firing process is magical– even a bisque.