Pots are pulled red-hot from the kiln at 1350 degrees and then "brushed" with horse tail hair. The hair immediately carbonizes and the result is a unique pattern of squiggles and smoke clouds that is absorbed into the white slipped surface.
Traditionally the technique is necessarily done on underfired porous clay; consequently the pots are suitable just for display or holding dry arrangements. My innovation is to use a stoneware clay body specially formulated to withstand the thermal shock of the raku process, even after having been fired to water-tight maturity. These pots don't weep or leak, and are much more durable than regular raku ware!
However, after firing, the outside surface is still porous to accept the smoking decoration, so it has been treated with a protective acrylic coating....pots can be gently cleaned with soap and warm water.
The name "RavenWare" comes from the name of the horse, Raven, of the owner that requested my first horesehair raku pot.....thank you, Cheri!
Traditionally the technique is necessarily done on underfired porous clay; consequently the pots are suitable just for display or holding dry arrangements. My innovation is to use a stoneware clay body specially formulated to withstand the thermal shock of the raku process, even after having been fired to water-tight maturity. These pots don't weep or leak, and are much more durable than regular raku ware!
However, after firing, the outside surface is still porous to accept the smoking decoration, so it has been treated with a protective acrylic coating....pots can be gently cleaned with soap and warm water.
The name "RavenWare" comes from the name of the horse, Raven, of the owner that requested my first horesehair raku pot.....thank you, Cheri!
For the Horse Lovers amongst you, for a small additional charge, I will use mane or tail hair from your favorite steed