The Otago Peninsula Potters Group potter in residence Michael Tannock built the raku kiln for Glenfalloch's "art in the garden" day on Sunday.
He and friends fired up the kiln for the first time yesterday to trial the method, founded in Japan more than 450 years ago.
Mr Tannock said the concept was to heat the pot to 1000degC and then drop it in a bucket full of combustible material to starve the glaze of oxygen to give an interesting final effect.
"We've got a bit of fine tuning to do before next weekend."
Next weekend, the artists will offer pots for members of the public to glaze and fire as a fundraiser for a new test kiln.
A variety of artists, including jewellers, sculptors, print-makers and stone carvers, will be working in the garden at the event.
