Raku and smoke fired vessels

Raku, a rapid spontaneous method of glazing and firing was created in Japan in the 16th century. The pieces fired in this way were used in great part, for the Zen tea ceremony. The word "Raku" means "felicity or happiness". In Western Raku firing, bisque-fired clay is removed from the kiln when the piece itself becomes red-hot and the glaze melts about 1100-1800 degrees. The piece is then immersed in combustible material such as: wood chips, leaves, hay etc. The chamber is then covered. The resulting oxygen reduction atmosphere turns the unglazed clay black. The pot is then removed and plunged into cold water. In order to withstand the thermal shock of this rapid heating and cooling process, sand or grog is mixed with the clay making it very porous, delicate and unsuitable for liquids or food. The pieces created from this process are strictly aesthetic statements. Although traditional Raku glazes are soft and subdued, contemporary western Raku uses glazes in a wide color range, including metallic luster's.

Firing in this manner leads to exciting and variable results. Copper mattes especially will tend to loose some of the bright color over the years, changing slightly until they are similar to traditional Raku glazes (oriental) soft and subdued... They should not be placed in direct sunlight and the surface should only be cleaned with a soft brush.

Understanding the process and how they age will add to your appreciation of contemporary raku work. Glazes, after all, are only part of the statement. The craftsmanship, form, balance, proportion, surface and composition as well as color make the entire piece work.

Burnished clay

Sagger, Pit and other primitive techniques

and how to care for them.

Burnished clay vessels have no glaze on the surface of the piece. As in ancient times, the process is one of intense labor. The piece is created either on the wheel or in traditional ways, i.e. hand building: coils or pinching. When the piece is almost dry, it is polished with a smooth stone, or piece of metal. This is done several times being careful not to damage or finger print the surface. When the piece is completely dry, It is completed in one of several techniques. It can be pit fired or fired in a Sagger where it is fired twice. The first is a (bisque). The second firing is done in the Sagger, that is a container filled with minerals, wood shavings etc. Sometimes the piece is wrapped in seaweed or other materials to get color. Salt is added to the Sagger along with other materials in the attempt to get an interesting surface. The Sagger is placed in a fuel burning kiln in my case a gas kiln and fired to about 1800 degrees. Every piece is different Most pots are fired several times to satisfy the artist. This of course adds to the problem of breakage. Loss rates are about 40% These pieces are extremely fragile. The piece should be kept dusted and occasionally buffed with a soft brush and a soft rag in order to clean and refurbish the wax that has been applied to maintain the burnish.

Follow this link to watch a short video on burnished vessels Burnished vessel Video

nAKED rAKU

"Naked Raku" is an interesting term for this unglazed pot. There is no glaze applied to these pieces. After a bisque firing, it is dipped in a special slip, glazed, dried and fired. The slip cracks and when the piece is reduced in the reduction chamber. The smoke enters the cracks. During cleaning the surface slip is removed revealing the planned or random pattern beneath.

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