This piece was slipcast using Ashraf Hanna stonware clay and after bisque firing was coated with put through the naked raku process.
 
Once cool it was cleaned up and vegan and eco friendly wax was used to buff the surface to a shine.
 
The top was hand blown by glass artist James Maskrey. 
 
Naked raku is a pottery firing technique that results in distinctive and striking surface patterns characterized by crackles and smoky effects. It is called 'Naked' raku as the surface is devoid of any glaze and therefore 'naked'.
 
Process of Naked Raku Firing
 
Preparation of Pottery
Before firing, the surface of the pottery is burnished or coated with a fine slip called terra sigillata, to create a smooth and non-porous surface. The pottery is the bisque fired to 900°c.  After cooling a layer of clay slip (usually containing clay, water, and sometimes a deflocculant like sodium silicate) is then applied to the surface of the pottery after bisque firing. This slip acts as a resist during the firing process, allowing for the creation of the characteristic crackle patterns. When dry this layer is then covered with a layer of raku glaze and left to dry fully for around 24 hours. The glaze and slip can be applied by spraying, brushing, or dipping.
 
Firing
The pottery is then placed in a raku kiln and fired rapidly to a high temperature (typically around cone 06 to cone 010), reaching approximately 1800 to 2000 degrees Fahrenheit (980 to 1090 degrees Celsius).
 
Reduction and Post-Firing:
After reaching the peak temperature, the red-hot pottery is removed from the kiln using long tongs and placed into a reduction chamber (a container filled with combustible materials such as sawdust, newspaper, or leaves). The thermal shock results in the slip/glaze layer contracting against the surface of the pottery resulting in fine cracks in its surface. The intense heat ignites the combustibles, creating a reducing atmosphere and lots of smoke!
Due to the rapid cooling, cracks form in the slip/glaze layer, which causes the layers to contract more quickly than the clay body underneath. This difference in contraction rates creates a web-like pattern of cracks. The chamber is then sealed and the smoke penetrates the cracks in the glaze 'smoking' the clay surface turning the cracks black.
 
Post-Firing Process:
Once cooled, the pottery is removed from the reduction chamber and left to cool in the open air, or for quickness can be quenched in water. The slip that was applied before glazing and firing is now chipped away, revealing the distinctive crackle patterns and smoky effects on the exposed clay surface.
 
Naked raku pottery is prized for its aesthetic appeal and is often used for decorative purposes rather than functional use due to its porous nature.