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Based on ancient Japanese tradition, modern Raku is a blend of East and West. Each piece is glazed, then carefully placed into a red-hot kiln. The fierce heat usually melts the glaze within 20 minutes, when each piece is removed, then 'quenched' in sawdust to produce a characteristic glaze and smoked black clay body. Raku firing is so rapid that control of the many variables is impossible. The results are always unique. |
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| After the creating process, the birds etc. are dried, then fired in a large kiln to 1000 degrees (bisqued). Glazing is done by hand with brushes. | |
 Pre-warming glazed birds on top of the kiln. |
 Placing warm, glazed birds into the kiln (about 900C) using tongs. |
 Lifting out a red-hot bird at about 1000C, to be placed on a bed of sawdust and paper straw. |
 After placing the glowing bird on the sawdust and paper straw, the resulting fire is "quenched" by covering with a tin until it is cooler. |
