RAKU is a low temperature technique of firing pottery that originated in Kyoto, Japan during the 16th century. The original items were tea bowls, created specifically for the Japanese Tea Ceremony. These bowls were hand built, rather rough-looking and glazed with a lead-based glaze, but otherwise undecorated.
The unfired glazed pottery was placed into a preheated, wood-fired kiln. The glaze matured very quickly and the piece was then removed with tongs and placed into a combustible such as straw, pine needles, or dried leaves. The result was instant flames and smoke. While still hot, the bowl would be immersed in water, arresting the glaze surface. This sudden change in temperature resulted in crackling, crazing and occasionally cracking of the piece.
Bernard Leach introduced the RAKU technique to potters in the West in 1911, after a journey to Japan that included his participation in a Tea Ceremony and hands-on RAKU firing. He described this in his well known publication “A Potter’s Book”.
Paul Soldner further popularized and modified the RAKU technique with his work in the 1960’s.
RAKU today has evolved into something quite different from what took place 400 years ago in Japan. The wood fired kiln has largely given way to gas or electric fired kilns. Surface decoration now includes the use of crackle glazes, metallic luster, and even horse hair. Just the fact that one removes pottery from a kiln while it is still red hot is now called RAKU.
What has not changed is the spontaneity involved in firing or the unpredictability of outcome, which makes each piece truly unique—the most prized quality of RAKU.
(206) 853-8479
garrisoncoverdale@comcast.net