Cīrulīši black pottery
Contacts: +371 29189358, [email protected]
Black, smoked ceramic ware created in the Cīrulīši kiln, near Liepāja, in Pērkone – a beautiful location surrounded by seaside pine forests. The plates are fine handcrafted pieces created by Liepāja actress Sigita Jevgļevska – Pļaviņa, who has been making black, smoked ceramic ware in her home kiln for 14 years. Many people know Sigita Jevgļevska – Pļaviņa as an actress from the popular Latvian TV series "Likteņa līdumnieki," where she played the role of the Narbuļi manor mistress.
Black, smoked ceramics is a traditional method of firing pottery, where the items are fired similarly to how it was done thousands of years before our era – by burying them in the ground in a pit. Today, the firing is mostly done in specially constructed kilns for this process. The black tone of the pottery is achieved in the final stage of firing. After about 12 hours and reaching 1050°C, the kiln is tightly closed or bricked up, creating a smoky environment, which saturates the clay vessels with carbon. This alchemical process results in the dark tone of the ceramics, which can range from grayish-green to silvery black.
Black, smoked ceramics are environmentally clean products, made using eco-friendly and health-conscious technologies, and they are 100% handmade, based on ancient pottery skills.
Throughout the year, workshops are also offered. In summer, the workshops take place outdoors under the pine trees!