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built during the 2005
apprenticeship at
House Alive!
First, an inner core of
sand and clay is built
into a dome to create
the shape and size of
the oven interior.
Then, a mixture of
clay and straw is
placed on the inner
core acting as
insulation.
Stove pipe was used as
a chimney in the front,
which will eventually
be sculpted into the
nose of the dragon.
Next, a cob mixture of
clay, sand and straw is
built up around the
insulation, creating a
solid protective
coating.
The oven was built on
to the end of an
existing cob wall which
was made into the tail
of the dragon.
Once the outer layer
of cob is dry enough,
it is trimmed and
ready for further
sculpting.
Then, a mixture of
sculpture cob is used
to build up mass that
will create the final
form of the dragon
oven.
Holes were left in the
nostrils so that smoke
could draw through the
chimney, giving the
impression that the
oven breaths fire.
Finally, the oven was
covered with an
earthen plaster and
was colored with
earthen paint
consisting of clay,
sand and oxides.
The finished oven was
fitted with a foil
covered wooden door
and was protected
from the elements by a
simple shed roof.
It took about a week
to build this oven and
we were cooking pizza
out of it the very
night it was finished.
