Mantou kiln

[2] The kilns are roughly round, with a low dome covering the central firing area, and are generally only 2 to 3 metres across inside.

[3] The kilns were normally made of brick; sometimes most of the structure was dug out below the loess soil, with only the dome and chimney protruding above ground.

Initially the kilns were fired with wood, but during the Northern Song period (960–1127) there was a general switch to coal, easily found in north China, which required a smaller fire box, but the introduction of saggars to protect the pieces from gritty coal ash.

A temporary "bag wall" might be built at the front of the kiln, once loaded, to protect the wares from the direct flames, and enclose the fire.

Official Guan ware had been made at Jingdezhen in a northern-style mantou kiln, rare this far south.