Aluminum foil was used to support the clay during baking, as the clay block and a box of toothpicks was used to support it on my desk and could not survive oven temperatures. After the supports were placed the pan and sculpture were very carefully carried into the kitchen and placed in the oven for eight minutes at 275ºF. After the eight minutes it was removed from the oven and left to cool. The clay was still quite soft when it came out of the oven but hardened as it cooled.