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Decorative Art Pottery

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yhst-132015947435578-2267-32332985.jpgRaku

(contentment – happiness)

This English translation of the Japanese word Raku signifies the special relationship between a pot and its maker. Every piece is unique due to the nature of the process – no two pieces can ever be exactly alike. Each pot is glazed by hand and rapidly fired to approximately 1900 degrees F in a small kiln. After the glaze is mature the pot is pulled from the kiln with tongs and set in sawdust to smolder. This “reduction” provides the pot with its blackened clay body.

In 16th century Japan the making of raku tea bowls was part of the tea ceremony. Today, however, Raku pieces are intended to be decorative rather than functional Enjoy your Raku pottery for what it is meant to be – an ancient method embodied in a modern form.

Courtesy of Dan Triece, Dirtworks

 

Horsehair - Folklore has it that a Pueblo potter woman discovered this art form in 1980 when her long hair accidentally blew and made an impression on the hot piece of pottery she was removing from the kiln. She was fascinated by what she saw and decided to try this technique with many other things like straw, pine needles, feathers and finally horse hair. The thicker and coarser horse hair left striking and clear impressions on the pot as compared to the finer human hair. Because of the individual piece at a time method as well as the fact that the horsehair is positioned on each piece manually, no two items will ever be exactly the same.

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