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Raku was originally developed by early Japanese potters, whose pieces were glazed and then fired at a tea ceremony. Following the completion of the firing, the bowls were then used by the participants. Since then many variations have been made on Raku, not only in the firing method but also in the way a piece is handled after it is removed from the kiln. There are several steps in the artist's process, most of which are considerably different from the traditional methods of Raku. Each step has variables that change the appearance of the piece. Due to the extreme temperature changes, at any point in the process, the piece can break.
. The Firing Firing pieces is the most exciting part. Over a period of several hours, depending on size and desired effect, the temperature of the kiln is raised to approximately 1800 f. When the glazes reach maturity, the kiln is turned off, the lid is removed and each piece is carefully lifted to the combustion chamber with special gloves and tongs. The Combustion Chamber While the piece is still hot, it is placed into the combustion chamber. In this chamber, material is placed that has been specially collected and dried, (including leaves, pine needles, sawdust, brush, grasses,etc...). The hot clay causes the organic material to burst into flames, sometimes rising as high as 3 feet above the chamber. This can be a dangerous process, but is necessary to obtain desired effects. After the piece is placed in the combustion chamber it is covered and left to cool slightly; the oxygen burns off and the carbon reacts with the clay and glaze, creating the sensational effect that is Raku. The Water Bath Using the tongs,the art piece is lifted out of the combustion chamber and plunged into a water bath to stop the reduction process,Some pieces break apart from the shocking temperature change: those that survive the process are then cleaned and polished to their finished beauty.
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