This is a piece of artwork that was made in Japan. It is made out of clay by hand as it spins millions of times on a potter's wheel. When the Japanese thought the pot was molded good enough they would put it through the firing process and then it was put directly in cold water or left out to cool. "Raku" means enjoyment or ease. These pots were made so that when there was hot food in it, you could still hold the pot and not burn your hands. These types of pottery were marked in Japanese history for their great developement of ceramics. The metallic glow is created from a glaze. The potter puts glaze, which is a mixture of metal and oxygen, so that it gives the pot a metallic glow and makes it appear shiny.
The Raku family worked very hard on their pottery to keep the family tradition alive. The actual name was diiferent but when the creator came up with "Raku Ware," he changes his name after it. I think people who can hand craft things like this are truly talented. It takes a lot of time and patients to create a piece of artwork like this. You have to be very disciplined to your work and not get frustrated easily. I tried making a pot in junior high and it was too hard. This type of artwork is very hard and not everyone can create things like this. I believe that pots like this will always be remembered for their beauty and special creations.
The most important piece in the Raku group is the bowl attributed to Koyetsu, one of the most famous painters of Japan, who took up pottery making as a hobby. He apparently never devoted a great deal of time to it, but, because of his artistic genius, the stamp of individuality on the few examples of pottery attributed to him more that compensates for any technical imprefections.
Title: The Howard Mansfield Collection: Japanese Potteries. The Gift of Mr. Mansfield
Author: Unknown
Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, Vol. 32, No. 5 (May, 1937), pp. 115-126
Raku was handbuilt and not made on the wheel.
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