Raku Pottery

Dating back to 1580 when it was first thought to have been produced by the potter Chojiro, Raku pottery is synonymous with drinking tea as many of the pieces created in this style were intended for that use and were shaped like bowls. The tea bowls were used by the Zen Buddhist Masters who not only admired the shape of Raku pottery but also the simple naturalness and lack of luxury that it presents. Despite being used as a drinking vessel, Raku pottery is not completely watertight.

The process of Raku pottery combines a low-fire process and a red hot kiln with the cooling of the ware outside the kiln. The effects of the monochrome black or red glazes produced a unique aesthetic which is still very popular today.