Dragon Kiln <龙窑> 陶光工艺厂 (Republic of Singapore)

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Measuring 43 metres long, 2.2 metres high and 2.5 metres wide, the longest dragon kiln in Singapore was built in 1958. Dragon kilns can be as long as 100 metres.

The firing oven
Guan Huat Dragon Kiln (龙窑) has a brick-built kiln constructed on a hill side with the fire box in front and side-stoking holes at the sides. During firing, the kiln resembles a recumbent dragon with fire spewing from its nostrils (fire box). The dragon kiln technology was brought to Singapore by immigrant Chinese artisans in the early 1900s.

Inside the dragon kiln
In the old days, Guan Huat Dragon Kiln was fired every fortnightly to meet the demand for latex cups needed by the rubber plantations in the Jalan Bahar area. Pipes and household items like water containers, flower pots and crockery were also fired in the kiln.

One needs to stoop when entering and leaving the dragon kiln
When demand for rubber declined, the pottery industry in Singapore suffered a set back. The pottery industry was revived briefly when flower pots became very saleable in the early 1970s. But competition with the lower priced Malaysian industry resulted in the closure of Guan Huat Dragon Kiln and other kilns in different parts of Singapore.

Pottery-making classes are available
Guan Huat Dragon Kiln was restored in the interest of cultural heritage and tourism. The Dragon Kiln Committee in Singapore Tourism Board played a significant role in spearheading the rescue. Today Guan Huat Dragon Kiln and its surrounding area have been gazetted as part of Singapore’s national heritage. Yeah!!

There are classes in pottery and other ceramic techniques conducted by resident artists at Jalan Bahar Clay Studios, which also provide facilities for both hobby and professional potters and ceramicists. Various types of clay, glazes and other ceramic materials, and pottery equipment are available for purchase.

Guan Huat Dragon Kiln
Jalan Bahar Clay Studios (JBCS)
97L Lorong Tawas
Singapore 639824

Contact person : Benson Ng
Tel : (65) 6777 1812, (65) 6341 1384
Fax : (65) 6777 1595


龙窑是古人的智慧结晶
陶器的使用，早在古代商朝已有记载，而龙窑的历史，也可追溯到2000多年前的战国时代，可说是最古老的烧陶方法。龙窑可分窑头、窑身和窑尾，一般依山坡地形而建。窑头在低处，窑尾在高处，窑火向后蔓延，温度会不断增加，其设计原理充分体现了古人的高度智慧。
窑头设有单独的火膛，窑身两旁有投柴孔（也称火眼），对称排列，窑尾一般不设烟囱，紧靠出烟坑有挡火墙和烟火弄，常以茅柴、树枝、芦苇等为燃料。其优点是利用自然山坡建造和火焰自然上升的原理，故造价低，又能充分利用余热，减低燃料的使用，缺点是需要大量劳动，师傅必须具备烧陶经验，懂得掌控火候。
陶光龙窑龙身长40米、宽5米，高1.2至2.6米，共有17格火眼。开全窑可烧制3000多件陶器。烧窑过程需约20个小时，烧窑从窑头开始，经10小时燃烧，累积至800度，随后在两侧火眼逐个加温，直到温度高达1200度。大功告成后，还必须等待窑身冷却，在"灭火"后的第三天才可以打开窑门，取回里面的作品。
本地一些爱陶人士也采用电窑或煤气窑来烧陶，据陈先生说，电窑和煤气窑只能容纳小件的陶器，且外型也受到局限。龙窑以木柴为燃料，成本相对而言较低，但龙窑的缺点是烧陶成果较难控制，产生窑变的机率高，需要有经验的师傅配合