saggar

A saggar, plural saggars, is a protective container used in kilns to enclose ceramic wares during firing. Typically made from heat-resistant clay or stoneware, saggars are designed to create a controlled micro-environment around the contents, shielding them from direct flame, smoke, dust, and the harsher effects of kiln atmosphere. They can also be used to influence the surface result by trapping vapors, ash, or combustion byproducts inside the container to create particular colorations and textures on the ceramic surface.

Historically, saggars are associated with the practice of enclosing wares during firing, especially in English and European porcelain production in the 18th and 19th centuries. They helped reduce glaze defects and losses by stabilizing the firing environment and, in some cases, enabled distinctive surface effects through carbonization or ash deposition. In traditional salt, wood, or reduction firings, the saggar could be filled with combustible materials or left partially open to generate the desired atmospheric influence on the ware.

Construction and forms vary. Saggars are often cylindrical or box-shaped, sometimes with a lid, and may be lined with refractory materials. They are placed on kiln shelves or loaded into stacks within a kiln. After firing, saggars are opened to retrieve the ware, and the containers may be kept for reuse or discarded.

In modern ceramics, saggar firing remains a niche technique used by some studio potters to achieve unique finishes. Antique saggars and saggar-fired wares are also collected and studied as part of kiln furniture history and ceramic archaeology.