Jo Seb
Raku ceramics are special because of the unpredictability of the raku firing technique. Raku firing is done in an extremely hot kiln and then removed while the ceramic piece is still red-hot or molten. Immediately after coming out of the kiln, the ceramic piece is then placed in a reduction chamber – usually a simple metal bin or container – filled with sawdust or paper. The extreme heat from the ceramic piece then ignites the combustible material in the reduction chamber, which is then sealed for a while. What happens inside the reduction chamber next is the key to the unique and unpredictable colors and patterns of each raku ceramic piece.
Source: https://www.raaquu.com
A carbon half copper matte piece happens when bisque-fired ceramic piece is not coated with underglaze, but instead is partially covered with a copper matte glaze. In the end, parts of the ceramic piece that have no copper matte glaze, turns out black after firing.
The unique finish on this ceramic piece is achieved with a raku matte glaze. The bisque-fired pot is glazed, then placed in an outdoor raku kiln and taken to a temperature of 1000°C. Quickly the red-hot pot is removed and places it in a metal container filled with paper. The hot pot ignites the paper, and the smoke and carbon react with the copper to create exquisite rainbow colours.
Masking tape or painter’s tape (some like to use washi tape or car detailing tape, too) is used to make a pattern or shapes on the piece in geometric or wavy lines. Once done, a few coats of glaze is applied over the tape, one after another – allowing each coat to dry completely before applying the next. Once the glaze is dry, the tape is removed from the ceramic piece. Then the piece is ready to be fired in the kiln, going through the Raku firing technique.
Smoked Raku is more commonly known as ‘Naked’ Raku among the pottery community. This finish gets its racy name because during the process of firing, the outer shell of slip that was applied falls off revealing the “naked” surface of the pot underneath. When it dries, it shrinks and crackles like mud does on the side of a road.
Obvara is a firing technique similar to the Raku technique, but the difference is that the vase gets dunked into a special Obvara mixture and then into water. This results in wonderful unpredictable patterns that look almost like animal prints or wood all around the vase. This technique originated from Eastern Europe and is also said to give an antique-like look to a ceramic piece.
The copper matte glaze is only applied to a portion of the vase, resulting in its body being half-covered in a beautiful unexpected rainbow-like metallic finish after Raku firing. Every vase is guaranteed to be one of its kind, almost effortlessly accenting the very shape of the vase.
