This vase illustrates a couple of firing techniques - "once firing" and using sawdust as a 'glaze' material.

The bone dry pot was placed inside another (already high-fired) pot, called a saggar pot. The saggar pot was then filled with sawdust and covered. The kiln was brought to cone 10 temperature and then shut down. This was done in a leisurly manner -- not a fast firing. The pot inside the saggar pot did not reach cone 10 temperatures. I know that because the pot would not hold water - it is still porous enough to let water eventually seep through.

The dark color towards the bottom is the result of the sawdust burning. The brown spots are the result of some dirt that was in the sawdust.

I solved the water problem by melting some wax and pouring it into the vase. Only the bottom portion of the vase is porous. The top portion is solid.