Black/smoked ceramics

Black/smoked ceramics is a traditional method of firing pottery in a wood-fired kiln, known even before the emergence of glazed ceramics — before the 13th century in the territory of Latvia. The black tone of the pottery develops in the final stage of firing. After about 12 hours, once the kiln reaches around 1050°C, it is sealed tightly, creating a smoky environment in which the clay vessels become saturated with carbon. Through this almost alchemical process, the pottery takes on its dark tone, which can range from greenish-grey to silvery black. It's worth noting that the result doesn't depend on the potter's skill alone — the moon, the wind, and other forces of nature play their part too…