These unique, one of a kind, raku fired, clay pottery pieces are individually created by hand. No two pieces are ever the same. Great attention is given to design, texture, shape and color. The brilliant metallic blues, reds, greens, and gold colors will shimmer and shine on almost all textures and surfaces.
To achieve these colors, pieces are heated to 1600 degrees Fahrenheit in a gas-fired outdoor kiln. Using tongs, the red-hot pieces are individually removed from the kiln and immediately placed on a bed (or nest) of paper, sawdust or straw – something dry and combustible. The heat from the piece ignites the bedding material. The flames are allowed to lick at the piece for a few seconds then are quickly doused by covering the piece with a metal lid.
Once the piece is covered, the fire quickly burns up the oxygen, which in turn creates carbon. This gives the unglazed areas on the piece a blackened color and the metallic based glazed areas a beautiful sheen. Each glaze has a certain characteristic – shiny, matte, smooth or gritty. These characteristics and vibrant colors can be influenced by weather conditions, wind and air pressure. This uncertainty is truly … The Magic of Raku