Saggar Firing Workshop with Tom Hubbard - Fall 2026
Date and Time
Registration for this workshop is limited to those registered for a Fall 2026 course at the Ceramics Program, Office for the Arts at Harvard. Registration opens Wednesday, September 9 at 10am.
In this intensive, multi-session workshop, students will begin with an orientation led by instructor Tom Hubbard. This session will provide an overview of saggar firing, including techniques for preparing ceramic surfaces with terra sigillata—a refined slip used to seal the clay and enhance the unique effects of this low-fire process.
Participants will learn how to load their work into ceramic saggars along with various combustibles and oxides to create controlled atmospheric effects. The orientation will also cover firing strategies, appropriate work sizes, and material choices.
Once prepared, the saggars will be loaded into the kiln and fired. After an overnight cooling period, the kiln will be opened, and participants will review and clean their finished pieces.
Workshop Schedule
You must participate in the loading session AND the scheduled unload/cleanup session to have work included in the kiln firing. Please check your schedule carefully before registering to ensure you can fulfill these requirements.
Orientation:
Monday, October 26, 12:00pm - 1:00pm Small Classroom
Loading:
Monday, November 23 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Firing:
Monday, November 23, 2:00pm - 8:00pm
Unload, Cleanup, and Critique work:
Tuesday, November 24, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Cost & Registration information
Registration for this workshop is limited to those currently enrolled in a Ceramics Program course. Cost: $100; FREE for Harvard College Undergraduates. Registration will open on Wednesday, September 9 at 10:00AM. A link to register for this workshop will be sent by email to those enrolled in a Fall 2026 Ceramics Program course.
What makes Saggar Firing different?
Saggar firing shares some similarities with raku firing but has several key distinctions:
- Terra sigillata is applied to seal the clay surface, allowing fuming oxides and smoke from combustibles to create soft, atmospheric, and painterly effects.
- Saggar firing occurs at low temperatures, producing decorative, non-functional work. Because the clay does not fully vitrify, finished pieces are not suitable for functional use.
- After cleaning the works may be waxed with a paste or liquid wax to seal the surface and enhance color.