Raku African Lion small size

Each piece of African Raku Art takes several days to complete due to the complex process of Raku Firing. Clay is hand pressed into a mold and left to set for a few hours. The clay is then removed and etched using the traditional ndebele geometric designs. Specially developed glazes are then applied by the artist. The piece is the placed in a low heat kiln to warm the clay and dry the glazes. The creation is then placed in a 2000 degree gas kiln. The extreme heat creates fiery glow on the clay which is then removed from the kiln, and still burning is placed in sawdust. The huge disparity in temperature between the clay and the sawdust shocks the clay which causes the unique crackling in the glaze. Any unglazed are turns black from the burning sawdust. Be careful in buying Raku there are several cheaper knock off immitations. We will offer a few of these pieces as they are nice to serves as examples between real Raku and the knock offs.