Alternative Firing – Obvara, Horsehair and Feather Firing Workshop

Prepare yourself for a sensory adventure like no other

Obvara Firing
Originating in 12th-century Eastern Europe,
Obvara is a dramatic Raku-style process where
red-hot pottery is plunged into a fermented
flour brew and then rapidly cooled in water.
The result? Wild, organic surface patterns that
feel raw, earthy, and alive. It’s unpredictable,
exciting - and seriously fun.

Horsehair & Feather Firing
Next, we’ll dive into a contemporary Raku twist:
applying horsehair and feathers to hot ceramic
surfaces. As they burn on contact, they leave behind
striking carbon trails - dark, wispy patterns against
the pale clay body. No glaze, just fire and form
at their most expressive.

Perfect for the impatient potter!