A day around the fire: 14 November 2026, Hosted by Leon Potgieter – Potterbakker, Koringberg, Swartland

If you ever wanted to do Raku firing this day workshop is for you. The immersive workshop explores Raku firing techniques through structured preparation, carefully paced firings, and shared learning.

• The workshop begins on Saturday, 14 November, at 09:00 and concludes at 15:00.

• Cost: R2,000 per person includes refreshments and lunch

• Pick up in Gardens CT at 08:00 on Saturday morning sharp. Taxi leaves for Koringberg 08:01

• I will send you my bank details once I confirm your attendance.

• Please also fill in the contact form so I can add you to the correct event database.

  
  
  

  For payment, please WhatsApp me, and I will send my banking details after I verify your request.

Location and Accommodation:

Koringberg is approximately an hour’s drive from Cape Town.

Temperature and Climate

Koringberg sits in the middle of the Swartland, and in peak summer it gets very hot during the day: 32-42 degrees, always about 10 degrees warmer than Cape Town. I do everything possible to keep the workshop comfortable, but bring hats and sunblock.

Important Information:

• All techniques produce non–food-safe, porous work.

• Participants may bring 4 bisque-fired pieces per firing for Raku

• Maximum size for Raku works: grapefruit width (15 cm height x 15 cm width).

• Clay must be highly grogged stoneware (approximately 10% grog).

• We strongly recommend white clay bodies, as results are clearer than on darker bodies such as terracotta or black clay.

• Unsuitable work may be excluded to protect other participants’ pieces.

Workshop Schedule:

Saturday – November 14

• 08:00 - Pick up Cape Town Gardens by minibus

• 09:00 - Arrival Koringberg and the studio

• 09:30 - Quick orientation

• 10:00 - Raku glazing of pieces

• 11:00 - Firing starts

• 14:00 - Lunch

• 15:00 - Final firing and packing of pieces

• 16:00 - Taxi pick up leaves for Cape Town

• 17:00 - Arrival in Cape Town, Gardens

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Firing / Materials Guide

This guide explains exactly how to prepare your work and what materials are used in each firing.

The workshop provides all firing materials, glazes, chemicals, and additives.

General Requirements

• All work must be bisque-fired.

• All results are non–food–safe and porous.

• Maximum size per piece: grapefruit width, 15 cm height.

• Clay body must be highly grogged stoneware (approximately 10 per cent grog).

• White clay bodies are strongly recommended.

• Each participant may fire up to 4 pieces per Raku kiln firing.

• Materials used: wood, ash, sawdust, charcoal, organic plant material, copper wire, copper carbonate or oxide, and salts.

• Surface effects: smoke blackening, earthy tones, flashing, organic markings.

• Pot preparation: no glaze; burnished, terra sigillata, or smooth raw clay surfaces.

Raku & Raku feather/ horse hair, sugar firing

• Pot preparation: bisque-fired only; glazes applied during the workshop.

• Traditional Raku with Horsehair and Feathers, sugar

• Materials used: horsehair, feathers, sugar

• Surface effects: carbon lines, feather impressions, smoky halos.

• Pot preparation: no glaze; highly polished, burnished, or terra sigillata surfaces.

What not to bring

• Glazes or chemicals.

• Oversized or heavy work.

• More than 4 pieces per Raku firing.

• Functional ware intended for food use.

Clothing and Safety

• Closed shoes are mandatory.

• Sunhat

• Sunblock SPF50+

• Natural-fibre clothing suitable for heat and smoke.

• Gloves recommended.

• Hair tied back.

• Firing groups will be assigned on arrival and remain consistent throughout the weekend.