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What is Raku?

 

The Japanes word Raku, roughly translated, means contentment, enjoyment and pleasure. It was a process of firing used to produce work of refined simplicity for the Zen Buddhist tea ceremony in the 13th century. The technique was Americanized by Paul Soldier, who developed post-firing techniques in the 1960's.

During a Raku firing, a glazed pot is placed into a kiln fueled by propane, natural gas or electricity. The temperature of the kiln is increased rapidly to 1800 - 1850 degrees in 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours.

When the firing temperature is reached, the kiln is shut off and opened. The red-hot molten pot is removed with long tongs and placed into a metal container filled with combustible material such as paper, sawdust, leaves or straw.

The post firing process creates the oxygen starved, smoky conditions that allows the copper, cobalt or silver in the glaze to become reduced. This process brings out the wide range of dynamic colors and dramatic patterns found in raku. Raku produces clay pieces that are both unique and magical.