Eight locals recently took part in a workshop which focused on Jomon pottery, an ancient form of pottery produced by Japan's first Stone Age culture during the period 14,500 and 1000 BCE. 

The pots are created using hand-built techniques and decorated with rope-like impressions; the term "Jomon" means "cord pattern" in Japanese. Raku clay was used to hold up to extreme temperatures.

The workshop was led by local potter Pat Tobin who took up Mr Broekman’s offer to fire the greenware in one of the kilns at the brickworks.

The greenware went into the kiln with bricks on Thursday, July 14 and the kiln was fired up the following day. Mr Broekman said the kiln gradually reaches a final temperature of 1150 degrees Celsius before being shut down. Around two days are allowed for cooling before items are removed.

“It’s a seven-day cycle,” he said.

Mr Broekman said former business partners, the Van Dorsts, had used the kilns to fire pottery regularly, and offered the use of the kiln to Ms Tobin two years ago.

“[We did it] to see what sort of character we could get out of the pots by putting them in a brick furnace,” he said.

“The raku clay is suited to this type of firing where it’s suited to high temperatures and shocks.”

Ms Tobin said she was pleased with the colour changes that had occurred during firing.

“They got some nice reduction,” she said.

“I’m very happy with the results because it makes them more interesting.”