Raku Ware

Raku ware is a type of Japanese pottery that is used to make bowls for Japanese Tea Ceremony. It is a way of creating pots that has been handed down through 15 generations of potters. The bowls are typically hand-built rather than being thrown on a potter's wheel, resulting in each piece being "one-of-a-kind."

In the traditional Japanese firing process, rather than letting the bowls cool slowly, as is the typical practice of firing pottery, the bowls are removed with metal tongs while still glowing hot.

Paul Soldner, an American potter, introduced a technique in which the pieces, removed from the hot kiln, are placed in masses of combustible material (e.g., leaves, sawdust, pine needles). This creates a reducing atmosphere for the glaze and draws carbon into the unglazed areas on the pot.

This process introduces a myriad of phenomena that take place on the surfaces of the pots. There may be flashes of unexpected color, area of metallic luster, and networks of small fissures on the surface of the glaze. Any unglazed areas on the surface are turned black.

It is important to note that Raku is more than just a firing process. It is a way of working with clay to express the profoundity of Zen and its relationship to the Tea Ceremony or "Way of Tea." It is a process steeped in spirituality and contemplation.