Steven Branfman on wed 20 nov 02
Janet and friends,
The raku "facts" as reported by Janet are appalling yet typical of the kind
of ceramic misinformation and myth that gets perpetrated. I am glad that
Janet has brought it to our attention!
Wally's corrections are accurate and his stab at a possible confusion between
Egyptian paste and raku is sensible.
As far as the relationship between the tea ceremony and raku, this is pure
fiction. Raku glazing and firing is not and never was part of the tea
ceremony. The concept of the "Raku party" was probably first reported by
Leach in "A Potters Book" where he describes his very experience with this.
Regarding the popularization of raku and it's introduction to the west, Leach
was likely the first westerner to do raku. This was in 1911 in Japan. Warren
Gilbertson was really the first western potter to introduce raku to the US
directly in 1940 by exhibiting some of his raku pots in a show at the Art
Institute Of Chicago and then in a paper he presented at a meeting of the
American Ceramic Society in 1942. Hal Riegger was one of the earliest
pioneers of American raku back in the 1940's. Paul Soldner was also a very
early practitioner of raku (late 1950's-1960) and the single most important
proponent of the method and singularly responsible for making raku popular,
accessible, and, if you will, American!
Of course the history of raku is more involved and complex than this but I
hope this summary helps.
Steven Branfman
The Potters Shop
31 Thorpe Rd.
Needham MA 02494, USA
<>
781 449 7687
fax: 781 449 9098
Steven Branfman on thu 21 nov 02
Friends,
Just to clarify my recent post regarding raku myths and facts, it is the
"act" of the raku firing that was never and isn't part of the tea ceremony.
Raku ware certainly was and is.
Any questions??
Steven Branfman
Janet Kaiser on thu 21 nov 02
Thanks, Steve B, Steve M. and Elizabeth H.! Some more information to add to
my failing little grey cells (although I have not yet visited the sites you
suggested, Beth).
I was so bugged by some of the forgotten "facts" swirling in the outer
reaches of my brain, I went and searched out my college notes. In brief, I
now have to admit my own "facts" are fatally flawed! Hope I have not added
to the misinformation!?
Anyway, that one about the Raku name... Here is one paragraph of my notes
(including spelling mistakes - no computers with spellcheck in those days
:-) verbatim:
"1560-1570 saw the emergence of three great political and military geniuses
who pacified and revitalised Japan. The tea ceremony went through changes
relating to these great Lords. Sen-no-Rikyu [margin note: great tea master
chajin] devoted great attention to Zennist characteristics of quality. In
his search found Korean-born Chojiro and was very impressed by the sobriety
of the ware. Together they evolved a form embodying all the qualities that
Chojiro was looking for. Thus Tanaka Chojiro was name. Son of T. Chojiro
developed (white glaze) _shiro_ to add to (red & black) aka and kuro. In
recognition of the work, Hideyoshi (supreme warlord) presented Jokei (son
of Chojiro) with the title "Best in the World" and a golden stamp bearing
character RAKU (meaning ease, pleasure, enjoyment). The family took the
name Raku. Nonka was third generation of Raku (also known as Donyu) was
able to extend within requirements of cha-no-yu wares and greatly added to
vocabulary. Esp. with glazes, kiln designs etc. resulting in now famous
Raku glaze styles of maku gusuri, nagare, etc."
Note in margin: [pictogram] =3D"The Raku Stamp... id mark of Nonko
(original was lost)"
So! There we are! I have no idea what the source of this was... Whether
book or lecture? It is so long ago, that it is noted "Raku now in 14th
generation"... And here we are in the 15th...? No wonder I cannot remember!
Sincerely
Janet Kaiser - feeling talkative in the middle of the night... ECG was OK
but the nurse has put me down to speak to the "Smoking Therapist"... One
fatal flaw about this, apart from being hooked... I *enjoy* smoking!
*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********
>As far as the relationship between the tea ceremony and raku, this is pure
>fiction. Raku glazing and firing is not and never was part of the tea
>ceremony. The concept of the "Raku party" was probably first reported by
>Leach in "A Potters Book" where he describes his very experience with
this.
>
>Regarding the popularization of raku and it's introduction to the west,
>Leach
>was likely the first westerner to do raku. This was in 1911 in Japan.
>Warren
>Gilbertson was really the first western potter to introduce raku to the US
>directly in 1940 by exhibiting some of his raku pots in a show at the Art
>Institute Of Chicago and then in a paper he presented at a meeting of the
>American Ceramic Society in 1942. Hal Riegger was one of the earliest
>pioneers of American raku back in the 1940's. Paul Soldner was also a very
>early practitioner of raku (late 1950's-1960) and the single most
important
>proponent of the method and singularly responsible for making raku
popular,
>accessible, and, if you will, American!
>
>Of course the history of raku is more involved and complex than this but I
>hope this summary helps.
Janet Kaiser
The Chapel of Art =95 Capel Celfyddyd
8 Marine Crescent, Criccieth LL52 0EA, Wales, UK
Tel: 01766-523570 URL: http://www.the-coa.org.uk
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