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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Taupou, post: 4559847, member: 45&quot;]First, there is American raku, and Japanese Raku, they are two different things, adding to the confusion.</p><p><br /></p><p>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.&nbsp; American raku, or post-firing reduction, is relatively new when it comes to pottery. </p><p><br /></p><p>American raku is a low-fired process of firing pottery, invented by Paul Soldner in the 1950s.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; 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.)</p><p><br /></p><p>Since the 1950s, &quot;raku firings&quot; and demonstrations world-wide have resulted in the process evolving, creating numerous different effects for the resulting pottery.&nbsp; But it&#039;s always a fast, low-fire process, that involves various combustible materials, and sometimes immersion in water to quickly cool the pots.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>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.&nbsp; 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.</p><p><br /></p><p>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.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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