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Hey I am curious if anyone has any info on the firing process. More specifically what teapots look like just after firing, and then what most potters do after that to call a piece finished.

I have noticed some teapots are very shiny and wonder if they are polished or if some sealer like wax is applied or if that is how they appear straight from the kiln.

Probably varies with glaze types but just in general.

Namamigaki is done by burnishing the somewhat hardened clay before firing. No wax or sealer is applied. Tokoname ware is mostly unglazed, whereas Kyo-ware and Arita-ware may be glazed. Here is a video of the process of burnishing the clay;



A few Tokoname kyusu I have seem to be made using very fine filtered shudei clay, almost slip like, and fired at higher temperatures so melting point is reached causing a shiny surface. Other wood fired kyusu can become shiny in areas when ash melts on the surface in the hot kiln.