Horsehair Naked Raku

Horsehair Naked Raku pottery fired with ferric chloride.
Unique one of a kind raku pottery vessel. with lid. Perfect gift as ornamental, decorative vase or other non-food storage use.
4x4inch

Ferric chloride is applied on the raw pot surface, hence the term naked raku, and fired in a raku kiln in an aluminum foil saggar. While at max temperature, the piece is pulled out and various reactive materials such as horsehair is splashed on the hot surface to produce the organic carbonized effects from the heat-induced reactions. After cooling, wax or other sealant is applied fine layers to seal the results.

Ferric-chloride firing is a unique raku firing process I enjoy thoroughly. The effects of firing ferric-chloride at these temperatures are organically random, unique and impossible to reproduce. Each firing adds to the individuality of a piece.

Raku pottery is created with relatively low temperature firing at 600-900 F. As the clay does not vitrify, the raku vessel is neither food-safe nor watertight. Only dry cleaning should be done with a feather duster without any cleaning agents or chemicals and kept out of the elements.