American Master Potter Robert Compton Pit Fired Vase. Signed on the bottom, with the studio mark on the side. Measures 4.50x4.50x7". Pottery that is referred to as being Pit Fired is not glazed. It has been fired in an open bon-fire or primitive pit kiln. When these burnished pots come into direct contact with sawdust, carbon trapping may occur, creating a deep black color. Copper is added to the Pit before stacking wood over the pots. As the firing progresses the copper vaporizes and flames fume the pieces with gaseous patterns of red, blue, green and yellow. After firing hot wax is used to seal the surface and enhance the colors. Wt. 1 pd 4 oz. PROVENANCE: A Historic Charlotte Street Home, Charleston, SC. Robert Compton is a versatile, internationally known and respected American Master Potter from Bristol, Vermont. He makes wheel-thrown, wood-fired and salt-glazed stoneware as well as raku and pit-fired work. Compton has also been involved in various architectural commissions. In recent times, he. has been making large vessels (up to 4 feet/1.3 meters) and other one-of-a-kind pieces. His most recent kiln is 250 cubic foot noborigama. In the early 1990s he built a variety of kilns at his studio. This provided him with the opportunity to offer summer workshops at the pottery. From 1993 until 2006, potters from around the world came to his studio workshops to share a common interest in clay. He is not currently giving workshops at his Vermont Studio, as he has many invitations to give international workshops and so travels and lectures extensively.

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