mel jacobson on sun 22 oct 06
it is very important to be aware of the
basic fact that raku is a theory.
it is not a temperature like cone 6, or cone 10.
a system for making pots.
raku is often fired without cones, pyrometer and
mostly by `eye`. when that happens, what
is fired to completion for one potter, is hardly melted for another.
some raku glazes made with frits or good glass makers,
will be rather hearty. and, if they are fired to a
good melt, they are really firm. almost functional.
but, almost is the key word here.
i have seen copper matts fired to very low
temps. they are hardly sturdy at all, and i would
never want to see them used for food or drink of
any kind. first off, it would ruin the pot.
it would not hurt you very much, but it would
ruin the piece.
many of the old japanese raku pieces, fired with lead
glazes can be used for tea. tea ceremony. i am sure
that not one person was ever hurt by these fine pots.
and, of course, they were used on occasion, not every
day. many that i have held were very glassy, and fired
to a rather good melt. i would never be nervous having
tea ceremony.
it is like having an asbestos pipe in a school/.
if it was painted...it could be fine, not a soul hurt. it is the
asbestos worker that is going to die young.
it is the constant contact with the product...day
after day. it does not mean we should still use that
dangerous product. but some seem to think that there
are dying children all over the place because there was
a pipe covered in a classroom.
raku, in most cases, is a decorative art form. it is not
functional ware. it does not mean that marta cannot
put dry cat food in her raku bowl. she would not eat
hot soup from the same container.
i have made a raku glaze for years out of 90 percent gertsley,
and 10 percent volcanic ash, or 90 frit 3134 and
some silica. it fires to about 1900F.
it melts to a glassy glaze. it could be used for soup...but,
i would never do that. not the purpose of the pot.
it always bothers me, when folks talk of raku as if there
is a standard. there is no such thing. i have seen raku
pots fired to about a hundred different temps. and the
ones firing have not a clue as to what they are doing.
just a big party. `i wonder if it is done...oh well.
into the water`. then make up some story about
this is a an old oriental secret that we are involved in.
silliness, and many of you know of what i am talking
about. we have all seen and heard that story.
then the pots are passed off as real `tea ceremony`.
not even close.
mel
it would be a lifetime treat to look through
mr. shimoka's `put away pots`wrapped in white paper....they must
be magnificent. he is one of the world's great potters.
i would take is word that a pot was a good tea bowl.
he would never make a mistake.
from: mel/minnetonka.mn.usa
website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
Clayart page link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
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