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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Taupou, post: 228331, member: 45&quot;]Japanese Raku, and American raku (more correctly, post-firing reduction) are not the same.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>Japanese Raku is a family-owned process/ technique/type of pottery developed by the Raku family, and used primarily in the tea ceremony.&nbsp; It dates back to the mid-1500s, although there have been changes over time.</p><p><br /></p><p>American raku was developed and promoted by American studio potter Paul Soldner in the 1960s.&nbsp; He had studied in Japan, and with others who also were influenced by Japanese pottery.&nbsp; In his experimenting, he came upon the process that is now called raku (without the capital &quot;R&quot;) or American raku, or post-firing reduction.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>The later refers to the chemical reaction that occurs when a pot is taken red-hot from the firing, and placed in a closed container with combustible materials.&nbsp; With reduced amount of oxygen, the clay changes on a molecular level, and results in the unglazed surfaces turning black, and specially-formulated glazes developing often unpredictable, metallic colors.</p><p><br /></p><p>Despite the common misconception, it is not smoke that colors the clay.&nbsp; It is the chemical process created by the lack of oxygen that causes the clay to turn black and the glazes to develop the unique colors.</p><p><br /></p><p>Japanese Raku is not made this way.&nbsp; The clay body is not turned black, and the pot is not put into combustible material.</p><p><br /></p><p>This pot is American raku, and, as stated, (and based on the way it is signed and the form itself) is almost certainly student work.&nbsp; Hundreds of thousands of students, potters, and just interested individuals, have taken classes, workshops, or attended raku firings since the 1960s.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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