My RAKU pieces

The magic of Raku: an alchemy of fire and matter

Raku is a Japanese ceramic glazing technique characterized by rapid firing at high temperature followed by immediate smoking in a reducing atmosphere. This crucial step triggers a chemical oxidation-reduction reaction: the metallic oxides contained in the glaze, specially formulated for Raku, transform and reveal iridescent, coppery, or metallic reflections unique to each piece.

The cracks, typical of Raku, darken during the smoking process. The smoke penetrates the fissures in the still-hot glaze, marking them with deep, organic contrasts. This process, both unpredictable and controlled, gives each piece its unique character and a visual richness impossible to reproduce in series.

Thus it is possible to obtain a more or less pronounced iridescent effect or accentuated crackling depending on the temperatures used.

Photos: opening our handcrafted Raku kiln at 1000°C, then placing it in sawdust or newspaper to provide an immediate flame.