About Raku

The Beauty of Raku: Where Artistry Meets Fire

Raku is a type of ceramic pottery that originated in Japan in the 16th century. It's characterized by its unique firing process and the distinctive aesthetic qualities it produces. Raku pottery is known for its often irregular shapes, vibrant glazes, and crackled surface textures.

The process of creating Raku pottery typically involves the following steps:

  1. Forming: Like other types of pottery, Raku pieces start with forming the clay into the desired shape. This could involve hand-building techniques such as coiling, pinching, or slab construction, or using a pottery wheel to throw the clay into shape.
  2. Drying: Once the piece is formed, it needs to dry thoroughly to remove excess moisture from the clay. This can take several days to weeks depending on the size and thickness of the piece.
  3. Bisque Firing: The dried pottery is then fired in a kiln at a relatively low temperature, typically between 1650°F to 1850°F (900°C to 1000°C). This first firing, known as bisque firing, hardens the clay and prepares it for glazing.
  4. Glazing: After bisque firing, the pottery is glazed using special Raku glazes. These glazes are often formulated to create vibrant colors and unique effects when subjected to the Raku firing process.
  5. Raku Firing: Unlike traditional kiln firing methods, Raku pottery is fired using a special technique. The glazed pottery is placed in a kiln and heated rapidly to a high temperature, typically around 1800°F to 2000°F (1000°C to 1100°C). Once the glazes have melted and the pottery reaches the desired temperature, it is quickly removed from the kiln using metal tongs and placed in a container filled with combustible materials such as sawdust or newspaper.
  6. Reduction: As the hot pottery is placed in the container of combustible materials, the flames quickly engulf the piece, creating a reduction atmosphere inside the container. This reduction process affects the colors and surface texture of the glazes, often resulting in unpredictable and unique patterns.
  7. Cooling: After the reduction process, the pottery is allowed to cool briefly before being removed from the container. The rapid cooling can cause the glazes to crackle, creating the distinctive crackled surface texture that is characteristic of Raku pottery.

Raku pottery is prized for its unique appearance and the element of unpredictability in the firing process, which can result in a wide range of colors and textures. It's often used for decorative purposes, such as vases, bowls, and sculptures, rather than functional items like tableware, due to its porous nature and lack of durability compared to other types of pottery.