Mick Casson

Today was Mick Casson's jahrzeit.He was one of the great British potters whose influence and personality helped me choose this wonderful profession,so it's fitting that Sydney and I fired our salt kiln last night,in his illustrious memory.If only one could get hold of a copy of his television series,"the Craft of the Potter",shown in the seventies,and since unavailable.I think the British Council might have a copy in their film lending library- must get in touch with them.The firing went very smoothly,and we hooked out well-salted rings,with cone 10 [1300 degrees} down in a couple of places.Tomorrow we hope to open the kiln- what surprises await? Meanwhile,after four crystal firings,I feel that I want to have another go before I put away the crystal glaze buckets,so am cranking out tall porcelain cylinders to test a new foot-trimming technique that,if it works,might eliminate the problem of running glaze sticking the footring to its pedestal.