Thow Kwang Dragon Kiln
In the far corners of Singapore’s west lie 2 sleeping dragons, or actually “dragon kilns”, and it was by sheer luck that we stumbled upon the dragon’s lair.
Dragon kilns (龙窑) are an ingenious ancient Chinese invention. Consisting of a long firing chamber built on a hill slope with various stoke holes on the side, dragon kilns operate on the simple principle that hot air rises and so efficiently maximize the heat produced within the kiln. When the entire kiln is fired up it flames, smokes, hisses and bellows, hence the name “dragon kiln”.
The earliest dragon kilns are now believed to have existed about 3000 years ago, after a large dragon kiln site unearthed in China’s JiangXi province in 2001 was thought to date back to the Shang Dynasty (1600-1100 BC). There are few remaining dragon kilns in China today.
Southern Chinese immigrants brought the dragon kiln technology to Singapore in the early 1900s. Although there were more than 20 dragon kilns in Singapore in the 1940s to 1970s, only 2 remain today.
THE LOWDOWN
The 2 remaining dragon kilns in Singapore are the Thow Kwang Dragon Kiln, and the Guan Huat Dragon Kiln, now known as the Jalan Bahar Clay Studios. Thow Kwang’s kiln which is 27m long was built in 1944, while Guan Huat’s is 43m long and was built in 1958.
Jalan Bahar Clay Studios (Guan Huat Dragon Kiln)
Although the kilns have long since been retired from commercial operation, replaced by newer and less labour-intensive electrical kilns, they were restored in 2001 after the national authorities recognized their historical value and deemed the dragon kilns part of our national heritage. The 2 sites recently had their leases extended (till Dec 2017/Jan 2018) with the option for further extensions. Both sites operate as commercial operations today offering pottery lessons, studio rental and ceramic items for sale. The dragon kilns are only very infrequently fired up on special occasions, and even then only a section of the kiln is fired.
Inside the dragon kiln
The dragon kiln is made up of a front firing chamber (the firebox), the main chamber where ceramic pieces are fired (containing anywhere from 3000 – 5000 pieces), and a chimney at the tail end where smoke and hot air are released. There are stoke holes along the length of the chamber to feed wood and to observe the fire.
Firing up the dragon kiln – courtesy of Thow Kwang
The process of firing the kiln is a long-drawn out process that can take up to 36 hours, as the kiln reaches a maximum temperature of 1200-1300 degrees centigrade. The entire ceramic production could take up to 6 days, as the fired ceramic products need to be left to cool for a few days.
VISITING
Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle
Apart from the dragon kiln the “pottery jungle” is also a huge treasure trove of ceramic and pottery items. After checking out the dragon kiln, wander around the many rows of shelves laden with all kinds of ceramic and clay pottery wares.
Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle – with Chairman Mao beckoning
There is also an old “kampong” (“village” in Malay) house at the back where the owners live. While it’s okay to take a peek from a distance please be sensitive and not go poking into the private quarters.
Jalan Bahar Clay Studios
This is further down the road, you’ll have to drive or walk over a gravel path to reach it. In addition to the dragon kiln there is also a gallery, and an open studio which caters to professional as well as hobbyist potters. You can rent space as well as the pottery equipment and participate in workshops too.
LOCATION
Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle (and dragon kiln)
85 Lorong Tawas
Mon-Sun: 9am-5pm
Jalan Bahar Clay Studios and Gallery, by Focus Ceramic Services (ex-Guan Huat Dragon Kiln)
97L Lorong Tawas
Clay Studio: Mon-Sat: 8am-5pm
Gallery: Thurs-Sat: 10am-4pm
There is ongoing construction in the area and the turn-off to Lorong Tawas off Jalan Bahar is currently closed. You have to enter via Nanyang Avenue (on the way to Nanyang Technological University) and turn on to Clean Tech View instead. There are signs pointing the way to the dragon kilns so just follow the signs.
HOW MUCH TIME
Approximately 20 minutes in each place just to check out the kilns. Allocate more time at Thow Kwang if you want to browse their huge storehouse of wares, and at Jalan Bahar Clay Studios if you are interested in the artworks at the gallery.
Jalan Bahar Clay Studios Gallery
TIDBITS
- Good firing depends on:
- Type of clay
- Dryness of wood
- Packing of clay
- Fire-stoking technique
- Martha Stewart (THE Martha Stewart) visited Thow Kwang in May 2010 as part of her SE Asian tour.
- During the Japanese occupation (1942-1945) small bottles for sake and medicine were produced at the kilns.
- The emergence of lighter enamels and plastics in the 1970s eventually killed the ceramics industry.
TAKE NOTE
If you are really keen on seeing the dragon kilns in action, check the websites of both kilns to find out when they organise firings. The Thow Kwang dragon kiln was most recently fired up on September 13, 2013.
Firing the Thow Kwang Dragon Kiln – Courtesy of Dan Lim
USEFUL LINKS
UnTourist Singapore 
Amazing stuff! Thx for sharing!
Sure, pretty amazing isn’t it? Hope they preserve the dragon kilns.
Pingback: Archeology at Pottersville | Random Connections
Pingback: Dragon Kilns – last Hong Kong one fired in 1990 – dramatic photo • The Industrial History of Hong Kong