Raku:
An ancient Japanese method of firing, resulting in highly decorative "art" pieces, ranging from sculpture to tea bowls. Tea bowls are where the origins of Raku is believed to have begun and still to this day master potters  produce tea bowls for the "tea ceremony" - held on important occasions such as dignitaries' visits, weddings.
Raku was popularized in North America by potters looking for new and exciting ways of producing spontaneous work. The new "raku "does not neccessarily keep to the old styles and rules and is often used by potters as an escape from the standard production, as a sideline or personal experimentation.

Raku is a process, not a type of clay. The raku process can utilize any of the three main types of clay .
Raku clay, by definition, is a clay which is capable of withstanding the severe conditions of the process - in short, extremely hot pieces are taken out of the kiln and smoked (placed in combustible material) in order to reduce (limit oxygen) the glaze  while cooling rapidly.
by Ronald Pothier
Here are photos of the firing process and some of my raku pieces. The raku photos were taken after dark, making it possible to see the heat we were working with during the firing.
           
Click on photo for more

Email me at   Ronald@lepotier.com