Raku

Crafted by fire and water, these pieces endured intense thermal changes in their creation.

They were made using very sandy clay, and fired in the kiln to around 1850°F. When the piece was glowing red-hot and looked glassy, they were then very carefully lifted out of the kiln using long tongs and gently placed in a bucket of combustible materials. The heat from the piece sets the combustibles on fire, and the bucket was sealed tightly, in order to starve the bucket of oxygen. This forces the glaze on each piece to create it's own oxygen, and intense vibrant colors appear under the right conditions. After several minutes each piece was then taken out and cooled in icy cold water, before all the soot and carbon could be cleaned off. 

These pieces are a labor of love, they are all individual and no two are alike. They are purely ornamental sculptures, not watertight or foodsafe.