22-06-2025
Pottery students fire up 6th annual teepee kiln
Antjie Newton, a renowned Lowveld potter, built her sixth annual teepee kiln last weekend with her pottery students at Anton Bosch's ceramic studio. This unique kiln, constructed in a teepee style, is used for firing ceramics.
Newton first encountered this fire-making technique at an 'alternative firing workshop' led by Nina Shand and Paul de Jongh at Millstone Pottery in McGregor, Western Cape. Inspired, she began making her own teepee kiln, which can range between 1.5m and 2m tall.
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The kiln is built by arranging rows of bricks in a circular formation, known as the firebox, which is then filled with charcoal, paraffin, sawdust and buffalo dung. Bamboo poles are tied together at the top to create the triangular teepee structure. A grill is placed over the firebox, upon which layers of ceramics are stacked alongside firing materials. The potters weave rolled newspapers between the bamboo poles to cover the inside of the kiln.
Afterwards, they seal the kiln with a second layer of paper dipped in 'clay slip' – a mixture of clay and water. The kiln is then lit at the base and burns for three to four hours before collapsing.
'It takes a long time to build since we need a lot of rolled paper to cover the inside,' Newton shared.
The potters brought various ceramics covered with green plants, wires and chemicals, which coloured the ceramics and produced interesting textures after firing. 'It's amazing the way the colour pops,' Newton commented.
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The items produced included ceramic urns, vases and plates featuring a variety of ombré and metallic colours. Each year, the potters experiment to discover the unique results of this alternative firing method.
Newton has also built similar kilns at other galleries and even constructed one for AfrikaBurn in 2023.
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