World Wide


BOTTLE OVENS and KILNS ELSEWHERE in the WORLD     

No particular order....

IRELAND

Irish Stoneware & Fireclays Ltd., Carrickmacross County Monaghan
From the RTÉ documentary series exploring the craft traditions of Ireland. 
"Hands: Clay Pipe Works." Narrated by Diarmaid Ó Muirithe. Filmed in 1983. Features a coal-fired beehive kiln.




IRELAND

Carley's Bridge Potteries, Enniscorthy, County Wexford
From the RTÉ documentary series exploring the craft traditions of Ireland. 
The film features master-potter Paddy Murphy digging the clay, and throwing & firing earthenware in a coal-fired beehive kiln. Made in 1980.
https://hands.ie/ 



USA

Bottle Kilns in East Liverpool and Wellsville, Ohio
East Liverpool was a major centre for the production of pottery in USA from the mid-19th Century. Skilled English potters, starting with James Bennett who launched the ceramic industry here in 1840, developed and refined the clay craft enterprise into a prosperous 20th Century giant. But foreign competition and new materials brought a general decline after World War 11, and only a few potteries with new technology and modern marketing remain. Around 300 bottle kilns existed in the city when it was a national pottery centre. Today, just three remain standing.


Kilns in Wellsville & East Liverpool, Ohio
Artwork courtesy of Sarah Webster Vodrey


Information from Sarah Webster Vodrey:   "Two kilns stand in East Liverpool and one in the next little town down the Ohio River in Wellsville. None are in use any more. 

Image courtesy of Sarah Webster Vodrey

  1. There is a bottle kiln rising up through the roof of the recently closed (February 2021) Hall China, in East Liverpool’s East End (43920 zip code). That’s the one that was used most recently.
  2. There is a bottle kiln that is part of the Goodwin Baggott historic site on Second Street in East Liverpool, Ohio 43920.
  3. The Acme Artware/Craftware historic bottle kiln is in Wellsville, Ohio (right next to State Route 7).
Sites with more information on some or all of these:
I believe that St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church on Fourth Street in East Liverpool may be the only place in North America with a stained glass window which depicts bottle kilns. 

Artwork courtesy of Sarah Webster Vodrey

The window itself is one of multiple similarly shaped windows below a much larger one. It is at the back of the sanctuary and is very high so I can only estimate it measures about 2ft square (about 61cms on each side). Even though the window dates from the third iteration of the building (about 1900), it shows three bottle kilns. They are arranged above and below what I always assumed was the mighty Ohio River, and an ornate white rose (the same shape but excluding the red traditionally found with the white in a Tudor Rose). 

At the time the window was designed and installed there would probably have been dozens of bottle kilns in use around our tristate era. Now, 122 years later, it is pretty poignant to realize that there really are only three left, just as the window shows." Many thanks go to Sarah Webster Vodrey for this information


USA

Goodwin Baggott Pottery Works - East Liverpool, Ohio, USA
The Goodwin Baggott Pottery Works began production in 1843 contributing to the industry that earned East Liverpool the title "Ceramic Capital of America." 


Goodwin Baggott Pottery Works, Ohio, USA
Photo: source unknown




BELGIUM

Centre de la Céramique de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles.
Dedicated to ceramics on the former Boch earthenware factory, of the Fédération Wallonia, Brussels.



Former Boch earthenware factory


Former Boch earthenware factory


Former Boch earthenware factory


MEXICO

Kilns at Mata Ortiz, Chihuahua, Mexico 
Mata Ortiz is a small village in northwestern Chihuahua. It is world-famous for its pottery, featuring intricate designs that are inspired by pre-Hispanic symbols or art from the ruins at the ancient city of Paquimé.  The ovens were initially made of fired brick and clay. Around 150 years old.

Kiln at Mata Ortiz, Chihuahua

Kiln at Mata Ortiz, Chihuahua

Kiln at Mata Ortiz, Chihuahua

Pottery from Mata Oritz, Mexico




FRANCE

Musee du Four de Casseaux, Limoges
The museum is protected as a heritage site and managed by the association ESPACE PORCELAINE that focuses on preserving and promoting the industrial heritage of Limoges porcelain. 

It is located in the ancient district named Les Casseaux, an area close to the river Vienne which was used to float the wood needed to fire the kilns.

The bottle oven is a downdraught built around 1900 and fired porcelain. It is the only 'round reverse flame' oven still standing in France. Possibly a design by Minton, of Stoke. It was fired first in 1904 and its last firing was in 1957. It contained 10,000 to 15,000 pieces per firing. The main problem with it use was, being downdraught, was with the control of the fire.

20 metres high and about 8 metres diameter, with 8 firemouths. A firing used 16 tonnes of wood (floated down from the central plateau on the river Vienne) turned into charcoal before use. The oven has 2 stories, first firing was at  900º C in the top level, second at  1400ºC in the bottom, There are flues in the walls to carry the hot gases to the top level. Firing lasted 40 hours

Many thanks for information and use of the photos go to Jan & Vern Brown. 



Musee du Four de Casseaux, Limoges

Photo courtesy of Jan & Vern Brown

Photo courtesy of Jan & Vern Brown

Musee du Four de Casseaux, Limoges

Musee du Four de Casseaux, Limoges




OTHERS WORLDWIDE

Other ovens and kilns worldwide