French ceramic design vases – Terre enfumée

“Terre enfumée” is an ancestral ceramic technique, where a piece of white clay is placed in a box filled with sawdust before being heated. Through this process, Karen Swami obtains organic and random effects, transforming the earth into a deep black, a rare shade in contemporary style ceramics.

Seeking to fix the ephemeral nuances of the Saint Amand sandstone when it’s drying, Karen Swami experiments with the ceramic smoking process. After a long polishing, the pieces are fired at 1000°C/1832 Fahrenheit, then immersed incandescently in sawdust, where opening the container modulates the carbonization. Once cooled, they are often waxed with polish, enhancing their unique finish.