Raku
There is a quality to Raku pottery that is unlike any other. Unglazed parts of the piece are blackened, white glaze creates a crackle effect, and the firing process, first used in Japan more than 500 years ago, produces a shiny metallic quality. It can be difficult – even impossible – to predict what the final piece will look like. For certain, however, it will have a luminescent beauty all of its own.
Raku
Raku is truly exciting, slightly dangerous and spontaneous! The clay pieces are glazed and then placed in a cold kiln. Within an hour, they are heated to 1000 degrees Celsius – and then removed from the kiln in a molten state, as if from an open volcano. They are then plunged into an oxygen-starved bin and covered in sawdust. The sawdust burns in the intense heat generated by the pieces. As the sawdust burns, it extracts oxygen from the oxides in the glaze, leaving the most amazing metallic colouration.You can influence the glaze effect to a certain extent, but you cannot always control or predict the outcome entirely – and that is why it is such fun!
Many of the raku pieces here have already been sold. However, I may have some pieces left in stock and I will make some of them again. I also take commissions, so I can make items to your preferred design, size and finish. Simply contact me (see below) and we can have a chat about what you would like.
Dimensions
Because all work is handmade and there is natural shrinkage when the pieces go into the kiln, the dimensions below are estimated, rather than exact. However, they will give you an idea of the approximate size that items are and can be made to.
Zebra-striped bowls
Diameter 17–23cm
Various dishes and pots
All diameter 8–14cm
Length according to the design:
Tuatara
Length 30cm
Dragon
Length 22cm
Puffin
Length 13cm
Duck
Length 19cm
Chicken, sitting
Height 11cm; length 17cm
Chicken, standing
Height 17cm; length 18cm
Hare with rucksack (x 2)
Height 23cm
Hare with rucksack, sitting
Height 12cm
Wild hare
Height 16cm
Kiwi
Height 11cm
Cat
Height 13cm
Various small animals, e.g. birds, chicken, fox, cow
Height 5cm
Contact Alison Holmans
Address
The New House
Tanners Lane
Eynsham
Witney
OX29 4HJ
