Naked Raku
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Naked raku is a pottery firing technique known for its distinctive and striking surface effects. Unlike traditional raku firing, where pottery pieces are glazed before firing, naked raku involves firing the pottery without any glaze applied directly to its surface.
During the naked raku firing process, the pottery piece is coated with a special slip, often containing a high percentage of clay and a small amount of combustible material, such as sawdust or sodium silicate. The slip acts as a resist, preventing the formation of a glaze layer on the surface of the pottery during firing.
Once the pottery piece is coated with slip, it is placed in the kiln and fired to the appropriate temperature. After firing, the piece is removed from the kiln while still hot and immediately placed into a container filled with combustible material, such as sawdust or leaves. The heat from the pottery causes the combustible material to ignite, creating smoke that penetrates the unglazed areas of the pottery surface.
As the pottery cools, the slip cracks and separates from the surface of the clay, taking with it any glaze particles that adhered to it during firing. This leaves behind a distinctive pattern of crackles and exposed clay areas, known as the naked raku effect. The contrast between the smooth, glazed areas and the exposed clay creates a visually striking and textured surface.