RAKU

edit April 2020 – DUE TO DIRECTIVES REGARDING BONFIRES DURING 2020 COVID-19 LOCKDOWN, WE WILL UNFORTUNATELY NOT BE RAKU FIRING UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Raku is a  relatively low temperature reduction firing process (compared to stoneware which is fired at much higher temperatures in an oxidation kiln) which, in its Western-style is inspired by the ancient, traditional Japanese firing technique.

It involves removing ceramic items from a specialised kiln while it is bright red hot and placing it into containers full of combustible materials. 

Once the combustibles ignite, the containers are closed, this reduces the amount of oxygen and causes the oxygen in the clay to be used by the fire, replacing it with carbon, hence the black charred colour of raku pieces. It also causes the raku glazes to develop in colour, often providing a metallic lustre and producing a crackled effect on the surface of the glaze. We use specialist thermal-shock resistant clay and dedicated raku glazes. 

Our raku items are decorative pieces and are not food safe.