Dishes used to be glazed. Up until the World War I people used purchased glaze and later started using lead. It used to be melted in an iron pot and heated until turned into ash. Then the ash used to be diluted with water, rye flour and sand. The mixture used to be ground with a quern. This resulted in yellowish glaze. Dishes used to be glazed before firing.
The kiln — a 2 m-high round object with an approximately 1.5 m top, made of unfired bricks — used to be outside. The bottom of the kiln used to be above the fire, while the kiln itself used to have two firing tunnels on the opposite sides. The fire used to be made from old wood, because it would give more heat. Through the holes in the bottom the fire would reach the very top of the kiln. The best time for firing pots was night. Masters used to say that it is only in the dark that you can guess if the pots are already done from the colour of the fire. Then they would extinguish it by covering the firing tunnels with soil and leaving for slow cooling, in order to prevent pots from cracking.
In the villages of the late 19th c. and the early 20th c. children used to learn the craft of pottery from their fathers or older brothers. They got used to the job since the very young age by making whistles, toys and similar things. Being 10-12 years old they used to help their fathers by preparing the clay, drying the already-made products, helping load them into the kiln, firing and doing all other jobs assigned. Aged 12-14 they used to make various items and aged 15-17 — already turned pots. In towns, where workshops used to operate all-year-round, it was possible to learn the craft of pottery at strangers too. A family of potters unable to deal with their work used to hire apprentices. Sometimes people learned the craft by themselves by looking at their neighbours, trying their hand a couple of times and then making their own turntable and learning how to turn pots. Or, wanting to learn the craft or teach their children, they would build a kiln, buy tools and materials, and offer it all to a potter, who did not have a constant place of work, sell his products and also learn the craft. Apprentices had to prepare the clay and wood, as well as dry the already-made wares. They often used to learn during winter, when the master had fewer orders, starting with small dishes: plates, pots, cups and so on.
