What am I looking at? …Pottery

What/when/where/who/why? I have no idea what I’m looking at. Saw it posted locally and just want to know anything! The first cpl seconds my eyes landed on it it sparked a Native American thought. That thought receded as I looked closer. I’m confused by the top of it more than anything. No bottom photo unfortunately.

 

Please always show the bottom, marked or not, when asking for help

 

Raku by the look of it.

 

I mentioned a photo of the bottom was not available. Great tip though. Thanks!

 

Hmm. Yeh I suppose. I honestly don’t know what even makes something Raku officially. I have a few pieces of Raku and I can usually identify it when I see it. Technically speaking I don’t know the definition though. So top is intentional?

 

it better be.....

 

Raku studio pottery. The top is intentional but also looks like it could be broken in a couple places.

 

Raku is basically burnt pottery. Which yours is. I agree it's had some damage.

 

So an “overcooking” give it its look? I have some Raku that doesn’t look burnt by any means. This one literally looks like it had been in a camp fire which is what sparked an initial NA thought that quickly faded once I saw the whole thing.

 

I'm no expert on this, but some is smoke fired which I think yours is.

 

First, there is American raku, and Japanese Raku, they are two different things, adding to the confusion.

Japanese Raku, named for the Raku family, who own the rights to the term, is related to the tea ceremony, and dates back to the 1500s. American raku, or post-firing reduction, is relatively new when it comes to pottery.

American raku is a low-fired process of firing pottery, invented by Paul Soldner in the 1950s. He was actually trying to duplicate the Japanese Raku look, when he, instead, discovered a different process, which involves taking a red-hot pot from the kiln or fire, and (unlike Japanese Raku) placing it in a container of combustible material. If oxygen is prevented from reaching the surface of the pot, a chemical reaction occurs, which affects the clay body, and the glaze (if one is used.)

Since the 1950s, "raku firings" and demonstrations world-wide have resulted in the process evolving, creating numerous different effects for the resulting pottery. But it's always a fast, low-fire process, that involves various combustible materials, and sometimes immersion in water to quickly cool the pots.

Any clay, as long as it has a high thermal shock resistance and low shrinkage, can be used, which can mean a wide range of resulting appearances. It can be glazed, or not, and although specific glazes have been developed just for raku, any glaze that can withstand the firing technique, can be used.

Because it is low-fired (which can mean 1461-1852F), it is not food-safe, nor can it hold water (unless it is sealed), so it is considered decorative only.

 

That's a way better explanation than mine.

I've seen this wood/smoke stuff on the Great Pottery Throw Down, it's fascinating how they do it.

 

That’s helpful!