culture-historical workshop at knudsgaard oleflemming – firing black clay pots culture-historical...

Culture-historical workshop at Knudsgaard Culture-historical workshop at Knudsgaard

Oleflemming – firing black clay Oleflemming – firing black clay potspots

Firing your own potsFiring your own pots

• In Jutland were black pots originally In Jutland were black pots originally fired with heather peat. fired with heather peat.

• You placed more and more at the fire You placed more and more at the fire - until you were able to see the pots - until you were able to see the pots glow.glow.

• In order to obtain the black color In order to obtain the black color (reducing combustion) in the end all (reducing combustion) in the end all were covered with sand and ash from were covered with sand and ash from previous firings.previous firings.


• Potty wives found out that an iron pot that Potty wives found out that an iron pot that totally covered the black pots ensured a totally covered the black pots ensured a consistent result. consistent result.

• Use such big iron pot and it's really black Use such big iron pot and it's really black pots you get.pots you get.

• Firing pot this way is however a tough way Firing pot this way is however a tough way to fire! to fire!

• The burning process takes approx. 6-7 The burning process takes approx. 6-7 hours hours! hours hours!

• Any kind of sloppiness punished! Any kind of sloppiness punished!


• Why do the pots turn into black? Why do the pots turn into black?

• The clay contains from natural iron oxide The clay contains from natural iron oxide (rust) and is in a regular ceramic oven they (rust) and is in a regular ceramic oven they will be red. will be red.

• Under the big iron pot the pots are wrapped Under the big iron pot the pots are wrapped in straw, which by the 8-900 degrees in straw, which by the 8-900 degrees consum all the oxygen. consum all the oxygen.

• The last oxygen is coming from the red iron The last oxygen is coming from the red iron oxide, which then turn into black iron oxide. oxide, which then turn into black iron oxide.


• It is essential that It is essential that the pots are the pots are allowed to dry allowed to dry slowly.slowly.

• 2 weeks is not too 2 weeks is not too much! much!

• Loosely covered Loosely covered with plastic. with plastic.


• The pots are now The pots are now dry enough. dry enough.

• Check by putting Check by putting your cheek to the your cheek to the pot. pot.

• Is it cold, let it dry Is it cold, let it dry a little longer! a little longer!


• The pots are The pots are preheated to 150-200 preheated to 150-200 degrees. degrees.

• In the old days the In the old days the open chimney was open chimney was used, here the pots used, here the pots stood on some planks stood on some planks for some days. for some days.

• Or they had a Or they had a “firehouse”. (see “firehouse”. (see photo) photo)


• Now it's easy with an Now it's easy with an electric ceramic kiln electric ceramic kiln or the oven in the or the oven in the kitchen. kitchen.

• The heating to 150-The heating to 150-200 degrees must 200 degrees must go slowly 2 - 3 go slowly 2 - 3 hours.hours.

• Before it took 2 - 3 Before it took 2 - 3 days!days!


• You will need: You will need: • 1-2 old big iron pots 1-2 old big iron pots • 1 wheelbarrow 1 wheelbarrow • 1 pair of 1 pair of

blacksmithsgloves blacksmithsgloves • 1-2 bales of straw 1-2 bales of straw • 1m3 dry wood 1m3 dry wood • 1 wax taper 1 wax taper • 1 broom 1 broom • 1 long rake 1 long rake


• Wax taper Wax taper “Fidibus” = iron “Fidibus” = iron fence post on fence post on which a cloth is which a cloth is secured with wire. secured with wire.

• With a little diesel With a little diesel fuel added it is a fuel added it is a nice little torch to nice little torch to light the fire with. light the fire with.


• 4 – 5 large 4 – 5 large wheelbarrow full of wheelbarrow full of wood. (spruce - pine - wood. (spruce - pine - larch, and the like) larch, and the like)

• It depends on the It depends on the calorific value. calorific value.

• Hardwood - a little less Hardwood - a little less volume, but everything volume, but everything can in theory be used. can in theory be used.


• You can do this You can do this with smaller with smaller amounts of the amounts of the different stuff. different stuff.

• You just have to You just have to find a smaller find a smaller castings pot at a castings pot at a garage sale. garage sale.


• You will also need: You will also need: • Plenty of space. (At Plenty of space. (At

least 5 m free to all least 5 m free to all sides of your sides of your fireplace.) fireplace.)

• Fine weather = (dry Fine weather = (dry and calm - wind under and calm - wind under 4 m / s) 4 m / s)

• It is best to start in the It is best to start in the evening, when the evening, when the wind usually settles a wind usually settles a bit. bit.


• Do not take chances with the Do not take chances with the weather! weather! Use the local weather forecast Use the local weather forecast

• Do not start the firing, if there is a Do not start the firing, if there is a risk of rain / thunderstorms. risk of rain / thunderstorms.

• The gusts before such would give so The gusts before such would give so an imbalanced heating, that the pots an imbalanced heating, that the pots burst. burst.


• The big iron pot is put The big iron pot is put into the wheelbarrow into the wheelbarrow supported by straw. supported by straw.

• Then start by putting Then start by putting straw in the bottom of straw in the bottom of the pot. the pot.

• At least 5 cm thick At least 5 cm thick layer formed as a layer formed as a nest. nest.


• The clay pots The clay pots should be wrapped should be wrapped securely in straw - securely in straw - both outside and both outside and inside.inside.

• Do not let them Do not let them touch the iron pot touch the iron pot inside!inside!


• The wood and straw The wood and straw are ready. are ready.

• The cast iron pot is The cast iron pot is placed with the placed with the opening down. opening down.

• There is covered with There is covered with a 5-10 cm wide buffer a 5-10 cm wide buffer strip sand and ash strip sand and ash along the rim of the along the rim of the big pot.big pot.

• This is important to This is important to get it airtight.get it airtight.


• The wood is placed The wood is placed around the ironpot around the ironpot

• The thickest pieces The thickest pieces inside. inside.

• Place short pieces Place short pieces at the top.at the top.


• The layer of wood The layer of wood around the iron pot around the iron pot must be at least must be at least 40-50 cm thick.40-50 cm thick.

• Over the pot Over the pot smaller pieces of smaller pieces of wood in an equally wood in an equally thick layer. thick layer.


• Place straw around Place straw around the entire stake.the entire stake.

• It is important that the It is important that the fire catches from all fire catches from all sides at the same sides at the same time. time.

• Help possibly with Help possibly with diesel fuel. diesel fuel.

• The even heating is The even heating is EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING.


• In order to have fire all around you using your wax In order to have fire all around you using your wax taper. taper.

• Wetted with diesel Wetted with diesel

• You must be as swift as possible, ignite the straw with You must be as swift as possible, ignite the straw with 30 centimeters intervals. 30 centimeters intervals.


• Use sand to put it Use sand to put it out again.out again.


• The flames turn The flames turn now high.now high.

• Look carefully to Look carefully to see all sides burns see all sides burns alike. alike.

Firing your own potsFiring your own pots•WARNINGWARNING

•Starting the firing using diesel fuel is Starting the firing using diesel fuel is dangerous – use as little as possible.dangerous – use as little as possible.

•And keep children and animals in And keep children and animals in safe distance!!safe distance!!


• To think of:To think of:• When the fire really When the fire really

flames, it emits a flames, it emits a very strong radiant very strong radiant heat. heat.

• It's a very good idea It's a very good idea to have water to have water nearby!nearby!

• But don’t hit the But don’t hit the ironpot with cold ironpot with cold water, it’ll break.water, it’ll break.


• The iron pot is exposed The iron pot is exposed and are not glowing.and are not glowing.

• Do you see this - within Do you see this - within the first 45 minutes - the first 45 minutes - more wood should be more wood should be added on the spot.added on the spot.

• It's a always a good It's a always a good idea to have some idea to have some extra wood lying extra wood lying nearby. nearby.


• Use a rake or other Use a rake or other to get the pieces of to get the pieces of wood put right wood put right where they should where they should be. be.

• Walk side wards Walk side wards when you approach when you approach the fire, then you the fire, then you feel the heat less. feel the heat less.


• The first time you The first time you see the iron kettle see the iron kettle exposed, it should exposed, it should glow cherry red!glow cherry red!

• The temperature is The temperature is then from 800 to then from 800 to 900 degrees. 900 degrees.


• After a time the iron After a time the iron pots are again to be pots are again to be seen.seen.

• One must still be One must still be wary of getting the wary of getting the cooling regularly.cooling regularly.

• With the batten / With the batten / rake can push rake can push around with the around with the wood. wood.


• The flames die out, and there are The flames die out, and there are only embers. only embers.

• It takes approx. 3 hours. It takes approx. 3 hours. • So you just have to wait 3-4 hours So you just have to wait 3-4 hours

more before everything cools more before everything cools down. down.

• You should be able to keep your You should be able to keep your hand on the iron pot (50 degrees) hand on the iron pot (50 degrees) before removing it.before removing it.

• Open to see the nice black Open to see the nice black pots too soon pots too soon

might ruin them!might ruin them!


• Dew or a small rain shower make no Dew or a small rain shower make no harm. harm.

• You can just wait until the next You can just wait until the next morning. morning.

• However if your impatience is too big, However if your impatience is too big, you can also wait up (Until 2 a.m.or 3 you can also wait up (Until 2 a.m.or 3 a.m.)...... a.m.)......

• It just needs to be cooled so much, It just needs to be cooled so much, that you can tuch the big ironpot!!that you can tuch the big ironpot!!


• Then it's time to Then it's time to see the result. see the result.


• Are they now Are they now completely black? completely black?

• If they are not, you've If they are not, you've saved too much on the saved too much on the wood! wood!

• They can be fired once They can be fired once more, but you MUST more, but you MUST get temperature higher get temperature higher up the 2nd time. up the 2nd time.


• We polish the pots We polish the pots after firing with a after firing with a paste of beeswax paste of beeswax

• Should they not be Should they not be used for food, one used for food, one can simply dissolve can simply dissolve the wax with the wax with turpentine. turpentine.


• A more "green" paste can be obtained by A more "green" paste can be obtained by melting the bee wax in cooking oil in a water melting the bee wax in cooking oil in a water bath. bath.

• Mix 1 part wax with 6-7 parts of cooking oil. Mix 1 part wax with 6-7 parts of cooking oil. • Warm up slowly and cool, stirring constantly. Warm up slowly and cool, stirring constantly. • If the paste is gritty cooling happened too If the paste is gritty cooling happened too

fast. Start all over again! fast. Start all over again! • The consistency should be like gruel. The consistency should be like gruel. • Is it too thick, it can be primed up a bit with Is it too thick, it can be primed up a bit with

cooking oil. cooking oil.

Firing your own potsFiring your own pots• The wax solution is The wax solution is

applied with a soft applied with a soft brush. brush.

• Then polish with a stiff Then polish with a stiff brush. brush.

• Eventually the "refined" Eventually the "refined" with a cloth. Do you with a cloth. Do you store the pots in a cold store the pots in a cold place, the wax may place, the wax may crystallize, and the pot crystallize, and the pot will be gray and dull to will be gray and dull to look at. look at.

• It is then necessary to It is then necessary to polish them again. polish them again.


• Here you can see Here you can see the difference on the difference on the front pot. the front pot.

• Patterns and glossy Patterns and glossy surfaces more surfaces more clearly after beeing clearly after beeing polished. polished.


• Many prefer not to Many prefer not to polish their pots.polish their pots.

• Pots not polished, Pots not polished, clearly shows how clearly shows how the straws have the straws have left their marks.left their marks.

• Personally, I prefer Personally, I prefer unpolished pots. unpolished pots.


• Should you encounter problems, or Should you encounter problems, or have unanswered questions, please have unanswered questions, please feel free to contact me. feel free to contact me.

• Mail: Mail: [email protected] • Skype Name: Skype Name: oleflemming1oleflemming1 • Facebook Ole Flemming NielsenFacebook Ole Flemming Nielsen• Please tell me, should you desire Please tell me, should you desire

other presentations. other presentations.

mailto:[email protected]


• Would you like visit Knudsgaard? Would you like visit Knudsgaard?

• The address is: Tim Kirkevej 30, 6980 Tim, The address is: Tim Kirkevej 30, 6980 Tim, Denmark (15 km north of Ringkøbing) Denmark (15 km north of Ringkøbing)

• To be sure I’m at home mail me rather in To be sure I’m at home mail me rather in advance. advance.

• [email protected]

• More information to be found on my site: More information to be found on my site: http://www.jydepotter.dk

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.jydepotter.dk/


• This is a description of how I do, This is a description of how I do, but .... but ....

• I do not know the local fire statutes, I do not know the local fire statutes, where you live. where you live.

• You are solely responsible for You are solely responsible for everything going legally. everything going legally.

culture-historical workshop at knudsgaard oleflemming – firing black clay pots culture-historical...

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