raku

tea bowls in the reduction process
tea bowls in the reduction process

raku involves removing red hot pots from a red hot kiln and plunging them into combustible material: wood shavings or chippings placed in a metal bin. Once they ignite, the lid is replaced so that the burning material removes the oxygen from the glaze creating lovely metallic effects and rich lustrous colours. It's fun, crazy and a little bit scary!