Always drawn to Japanese wood-fired pottery, and especially to the quiet beauty and timeless design of the Anagama kiln, Martin had long dreamed of building a wood-fired kiln of his own.

It was during the years of widespread electricity shortages in South Africa that he finally decided to pursue that dream. Realising that an Anagama kiln would be too ambitious as a first project, he chose instead to build a much smaller kiln where he could learn the demanding art of firing pottery with wood alone.

Martin settled on a simple, rocket stove-inspired design, with the firebox positioned beneath the firing chamber so that the flames travel horizontally through the pots before finding their way to the chimney above.

He soon discovered that wood firing is as much about patience as it is about fire. Learning to guide the flames, build heat slowly and evenly, and respond to the changing character of the kiln is a skill that cannot be taught by books alone, but only through repeated firings and careful observation.

Clay does not appreciate being rushed; each pot asks for a gentle, steady rise in temperature, rewarding patience while revealing every lapse in judgement.