A saggar is a container, usually made of clay, in which another pot is placed before firing. Originally they were used by Chinese potters to protect their delicate porcelain from the wood ash that would be deposited on the pots in a wood firing. We use saggars in the opposite way.

The pots are placed in the saggar along with any number of combustible materials, including straw, sawdust, dog food, banana skins, copper and steel pot scrubbies, miracle gro, copper carbonate and iron, to name a few! The fumes from these materials pentrate the surface of the pot giving them their unique, one of a kind effect.

Saggar fired pots can also be made by wrapping the pot and combustibles in tin foil, or clay soaked paper. 

These pots are not watertight, nor food safe.