Raku has its roots in Japan and is connected with the Japanese Tea Ceremony.....a high honor between persons reflective of the Zen aesthetic. Chojiro, a Japanese potter, was given the task to make ware for this Ceremony (1573-1615). His forms were simple and elegant which were in keeping with the Zen nature of the Tea Ceremony.

Raku ware is fired outdoors and is removed from the kiln when it is red-hot. The piece is quickly placed in a chamber with various combustible materials...following an immediate burn, the chamber is capped which creates an oxygen reduction atmosphere & produces extraordinary, one of a kind results.

The title of "Raku" is translated in a variety of ways.....meaning pleasure, felicity, enjoyment and contentment.  Having been found as one of the characters in the name of a palace built by Hideyoshi, Jurakudai, "Raku" in Japan is a family name and a pottery dynasty.

Artists in the West continue to experiment and explore the process being captivated by the serendipitous nature of "Raku".