Raku pottery has become a popular interior design accessory that is becoming more popular as a technique with professional potters and hobby pottery enthusiasts and more widely used to enhance any décor because of the mutant color qualities that blend with existing decorating schemes.
Raku pottery takes its origin in Japan, where the family of Japanese potters from the16th Kyoto created the style and distinctive characteristics of low temperature and interrupted firing, because their firing was wood-fueled kilns, since there was no propane at the time.
While some lore believes that “smoking” gave Raku the name and characteristics, that myth comes from the fact that the pottery was allowed to air-cool after the traditional fire started to die down, and the smoke formed the variant color details.
It has become popular again in the last twenty-five years as the Raku pottery techniques involve drawing red hot pots from a kiln and the subsequent “smoking” of the pottery is done in sawdust for the effect. In fact, Hamada, the famous Japanese potter, once said he wanted to wait until the end of his life to learn how to make Raku pottery, because it was the most important and difficult technique to master.
Raku pottery techniques are done in various ways and originally earthenware was used, although any clay body can be used in the process, because it is the glazing and firing technique that makes it distinct. Much of the characteristics of this pottery come from the glaze that is used and it will cool with a “cracking” appearance, also called crazing, that gives the pottery vibrant color contrasts, which are mutable, and may have strong simple shapes and random crazing.
Because of these characteristics, they make a stunning collection of elegant pottery that can fit a wide range of interior decors and have colors that mutate to harmonize with the surroundings of a room. Pleasing to the eye, calming to the spirit and bringing joy and harmony to your heart and life are part of the Raku tradition. Traditionally, Japanese used Raku for their Japanese tea parties for these reasons in ancient centuries.
Today, Raku pottery comes in a variety of finishes and patterns. Bright colors like lapis, aqua, persimmon, red, coffee, amethyst, egg plant gray or gun metal blue are examples. Finishes turn out with different patterns that vary with the color of glaze used. Pottery that is Raku inspired is often inspired by primitive ritual and ceremonial ceramics from around the world. Examples would be a fetish pot, volcano seed pots or volcano bowls.
These unique pottery shapes, colors and finishes can turn a room into an artistically pleasing palette that features the aesthetic and relaxing Zen-like traits that make this type of pottery more than just another vase. If you have never seen Raku pottery, then you will certainly recognize it for the unique glazing patterns, vibrant colors and unusual shapes it can have. It is these characteristics that have made it so popular in decorating today.
The different look you achieve by using Raku pottery, versus normal ceramic pottery with standard glazes is dramatic, as the Raku pottery has an almost ancient pottery look that gives it an old world character, yet has shapes that are unique, edge techniques that are free formed or different patterned and can become the focal point of any room, regardless of other decorating styles in a room. You can enhance any décor when you use this pottery to compliment your interior design.
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