THE RAKU PROCESS
- The raku process involves removing a red-hot ceramic peice from a gas fired kiln at 1800 degrees. The peice is then placed in combustable material (sawdust or shredded paper). After the material lights on fire, it is then covered with a can to seal the air from the work. The reation the glaze has with the smoke is what causes the crackle patterns and lusterous colors to appear.
The process of Raku firing originated in 16th Century Japan. The Japanese used the Raku tea bowls as part of the Zen Buddhist Tea ceremony.Typical Japanese Raku would not include the placement of the work in combustible materials (know as post fire reduction) Americans were first introducted to Raku in the 1960's by ceramicist Paul Solder. Solder found traditional firing of the work uninteresting. By accident, he droped a pot in some pepper leaves and was excited by the results acheived by the smoke/fire with the pot. Hence the process of Raku that we know was born.
ELEMENTS the history of raku
