Canton Clay Works

Call Directions Website Contact the museum

Canton Clay Works Our pottery studio in Canton, CT offers wood firings, memberships, classes, a gallery and more!

Got some AMAZING colors out of the last reduction-cooled Train Kiln firing! We use minimal glazes in this kiln, because ...
10/23/2026

Got some AMAZING colors out of the last reduction-cooled Train Kiln firing! We use minimal glazes in this kiln, because the clays and ash really do all the talking.



BOO!

Got some AMAZING colors out of the last reduction-cooled Train Kiln firing! We use minimal glazes in this kiln, because the clays and ash really do all the talking.



Got some AMAZING colors out of the last reduction-cooled Train Kiln firing! We use minimal glazes in this kiln, because the clays and ash really do all the talking.



Got some AMAZING colors out of the last reduction-cooled Train Kiln firing! We use minimal glazes in this kiln, because the clays and ash really do all the talking.



Got some AMAZING colors out of the last reduction-cooled Train Kiln firing! We use minimal glazes in this kiln, because the clays and ash really do all the talking.



Got some AMAZING colors out of the last reduction-cooled Train Kiln firing! We use minimal glazes in this kiln, because the clays and ash really do all the talking.



Got some AMAZING colors out of the last reduction-cooled Train Kiln firing! We use minimal glazes in this kiln, because the clays and ash really do all the talking.



Got some AMAZING colors out of the last reduction-cooled Train Kiln firing! We use minimal glazes in this kiln, because the clays and ash really do all the talking.

Unloaded the gas kiln today! Here’s some student work, along with the glazes used 🥰 First up is Woo Yellow! Odies Bl...
10/13/2026

Unloaded the gas kiln today! Here’s some student work, along with the glazes used 🥰 First up is Woo Yellow!



Odies Black plus an underglaze decal

Piper Celadon

Rick’s Red

Seafoam/Penspod/Green “Shino”

Woo Blue

Penspod

Tim’s Aurora/Buttermilk

Tim’s Aurora

Buttermilk/Green “Shino”

Tim’s Aurora/Seafoam

Tom’s Oribe/Rick’s Red

Heaven’s Gate (no not the cult)/Green “Shino”

09/17/2026

What’s it like to fire the big Train Kiln? Nonstop action!
Once preheat is over, this kiln eats tons of wood! All that fuel is turned to heat, fly ash, and v***r; and in this type of kiln, the only thing protecting pots from being hammered with ash is more pots! This makes for some dramatic results that show the flame path on the surface of every piece.
In this vid you can see the different stoking methods. Most of the wood is fed through the bourry box, that large fiery opening at the front of the kiln. The draw inside the kiln carries the flame down and into the chamber. This is subsidized by stoking through the smaller sliding doors nearby. We also do a lot of sidestoking: feeding smaller sticks of wood into the side of the kiln. This helps pull the heat from the front to the back.
It takes a lot of work to fire a kiln this big! But when the crew is all focused on teamwork and driven by the mission for great pots, wood firing is such a rewarding experience!

After a summer of sleeping soundly, the Train Kiln is waking up for firing season! This beast can put off some heat, so ...
09/11/2026

After a summer of sleeping soundly, the Train Kiln is waking up for firing season! This beast can put off some heat, so we let her take the summer off. The radiant warmth is welcome come winter, so you’ll often find the firing crew huddled against the concrete in the cold months.
First firing of the season begins October 6, and then we fire again November 17. Both firings still have space available for additional participants. 2027’s wood firing schedule is in the works; sign up for our newsletter through the link in our bio to know when they’re up! In the meantime, swipe for some delicious ash and warm flashing from firings past ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

09/09/2026

Holiday Session pottery classes are live now!

Whether you’re a clay beginner or a returning intermediate, CCW is proud to offer NINE different class options! Students enjoy access to dozens of glazes, as well as the option to participate in wood, soda, and gas reduction firings. This term runs from October 18 through December 19. More details can be found on our website! 🫖

Stunner out of the gas kiln here to tell you Fall session pottery classes are OPEN! Limited spots are still available in...
07/14/2026

Stunner out of the gas kiln here to tell you Fall session pottery classes are OPEN!

Limited spots are still available in beginner wheel throwing and hand building classes. Students like the artist of this amazing two-tiered jar have access to dozens of custom-mixed cone 10 glazes, which providing tons of options to express their creativity!

Other enrollment perks include:
• 6 days a week of studio access
• A free bag of clay
• First 10 pots fired free for beginner wheel throwers
•The opportunity to wood fire at a discounted rate
•Central air! 😉

Classes begin Aug 8!

06/26/2026

WE DID IT!
Train Kiln renovation is complete, and we’ve already started the fire! Inaugural firing with CT Clay Guild is currently underway ❤️‍🔥
We’re not done yet though - we’ve made a couple of super exciting changes during the rebuild that allow us to use this kiln for new techniques. We’re so excited to share with you!

Huge, huge thanks to our incredible crew for your dedication, drive, and good vibes. As we know, wood firing takes a village, and we’re so thankful to our team 💕

Just a few highlights from this past Sunday’s Noborigama unloading! We’re incredibly excited about the results of the ne...
06/10/2026

Just a few highlights from this past Sunday’s Noborigama unloading! We’re incredibly excited about the results of the new subtle soda program in this kiln- the pots have the perfect mixture of ash, flashing, and gloss. A little sodium goes a long way, it really makes the glazes and clays POP!

We fire again in July, and there is still volume available! No experience necessary, all are welcome ❤️‍🔥 Find details about wood firing with us on our website.

06/05/2026

Update on our Train Kiln renovation: we’ve been building! The crew has been hard at work building various sections of the kiln: secondary air, stoke openings, and maybe the most important part of the rebuild, the throat arch! This was a complicated section with various intersecting walls and new innovations. The castable itself took 800lbs of dry material alone! The refractory cement includes thousands of tiny stainless steel needles for reinforcement. This serves as the foundation for the next section, the bourry box (the main firebox for a Train Kiln).
Onward and upward!

06/03/2026

AND you’re invited! We’re unloading our first entirely wood/soda Noborigama THIS WEEKEND! We took a peek inside the spyholes today and we really like what we see 👀
Join CCW potters and the firing crew this Sunday 6/7 at noon for some Christmas in June 😊

Address

150 Cherry Brook Road
Canton, CT
06019

Telephone

+18606931000

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Canton Clay Works posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to Canton Clay Works:

Shortcuts

Share

Category