Pit-firing  [deutsch]

In pit-firing, bisque-fired objects are placed in a pit that has been partially filled with sawdust. The sawdust is mixed with various salts, metal oxides and organic materials. The pit is then filled with wooden planks and set afire. The fire itself has the last word in the final appearance of the objects. After being retrieved from the pit, the objects are burnished with beeswax, which lends a silky-smooth, mat finish to the surface. Pit-fired vessels are not water-proof and are solely used for aesthetic purposes.