When most potters in the West think of raku firing, they think of what should technically be referred to as “American” or “Western” raku: a process in which work is removed from the kiln at bright red heat and subjected to post-firing reduction (or smoking) by being placed in containers of combustible materials, which blackens raw clay and causes crazing in the glaze surface.

This Western raku firing process has a huge draw for many potters because of its excitement and unpredictability.

After all, what’s not to love about playing with fire?!