The Collections

Meet Raku

Raku literally means “Joy” or “Pleasure” in Japanese.

For me, it is a way to express my creativity and imagination in the dance of the Raku pottery process. I am always seeking to create something new, unique and beautiful. Raku is the most dynamic and exciting type of ceramics in what can be achieved and how sensitive the results can be due to subtle changes in the process. It’s also the hardest technique to control and even subtle changes to the process produce varied, unexpected results. It is the most intimate of firing processes. Unlike traditional pottery, I literally watch the pieces in the kiln during the firing, incrementally increasing the heat, watching the glaze bubble and smooth or whatever reaction is desired to effect the desired goal. It is a process of excitement and adreneline, limitless possibilities, trials, plenty of failures and unique beautiful results. It is my dance of Raku.

I produce a variety of vessel forms in each style, including some that are very unique. My Emperor and Empress vessels in particular and other forms I produce reflect my desire to provide you something different and special when you purchase a piece. Many pieces are adorned with ornamental lids as statements of originality. When you purchase a piece of my Raku, I want you to have something really special that will bring you…Raku!

Each of the Raku styles shown in the COLLECTION section above exemplifies one of the types of Raku that I produce in my studio.

To learn more about the techniques I use to produce each style and to see more examples, please click one of these links.

• Tiger Saggar

• Opalescence

• Copper Matte

• Color & Crackle

• Jewels of Atlantis

• Luster & Colored  Luster

Or… visit my Shop now to begin your exploration of Sanders Raku to grace your home or office or to give as a gift to someone you treasure.

The Raku process involves a relatively quick firing (sometimes up to 2,000 degrees in approximately 30 minutes). In Raku, pieces experience thermal shock unlike any other form of pottery. Pieces are fired to glaze maturity so quickly, then pulled from the kiln with tongs and then cooling so quickly. The unfortunate effect of this thermal shock is that there is far more loss to cracks with Raku than any other ceramic firing process. Once pulled from the kiln the piece is placed in a container filled with a combustible material like newspaper.  The hot piece naturally lights the combustible material on fire. The  chamber is then closed and naturally the fire becomes smoke. 

The secret of Raku lies in that smoke and the resulting chemical reaction called reduction, from the denial of oxygen. The magic of Raku is a result of that reduction. The reduction brings out the metallic lusters from the glazes to produce one of many different final beautiful effects.

There is finesse and technique inherent to every form of pottery but far more with Raku. Every subtle difference in the firing and reduction process creates changes to the results achieved.  Many of the glazes contain Copper in one form or another. If the piece is allowed to cool to a certain degree the piece will come out blue or green and may even crackle. However if that same piece is pulled at a high enough temperature, then reduced in the smoke the piece will turn out anything from a bright copper to a multi-colored metallic finish, shiny or matte depending on the glaze.