firstfired

Firstfired is a term that appears in discussions of manufacturing and craft processes, most commonly in ceramics, where it is associated with the initial firing of a material. In ceramics, the initial firing is usually referred to as bisque firing or biscuit firing. This first firing hardens the unfired clay, drives off moisture, and produces a porous, solid form that can be glazed and fired again in a second, glaze firing. The exact conditions of a first firing—temperature, duration, and kiln atmosphere—vary with the clay body and the intended final glaze, and there is no universal standard.

Beyond ceramics, the phrase can describe the first heat treatment or debindering stage in other materials processing. In metalworking, for example, an initial heat treatment may be used to relieve stresses, improve machinability, or prepare a workpiece for subsequent processing. In glass or polymer processing, a similar first-stage heat treatment may be employed to stabilize the material before final shaping or finishing.

As a written form, “firstfired” is not a standardized technical term and may appear as a stylized label in branding or studio naming. When encountered, its meaning is typically inferred from the context of use—whether it refers to ceramics, metalworking, or another material processing discipline.

See also: bisque firing, glaze firing, heat treatment, debinding.