The pieces are removed from the kiln while still red hot, then placed in a container containing combustible material such as paper, hay or straw. After the combustibles start burning the container is sealed causing the fire to consume all of the oxygen. The exposure to air, then smoke, and then the lack of oxygen during cooling is what causes the great variation in the glaze. Each piece is truly one of a kind. To see a larger more detailed picture click on image.
Pieces illustrated here are no longer available for sale.
For information or comments, please e-mail me. Thanks for visiting my site. Due to the low firing temperatures and the thermal shocks involved in the firing process, Raku ceramics are not as durable as normal high fired ceramics. Pieces which have cracks through the clay body are very fragile.