Raku is a Japanese firing technique where the piece is pulled from the kiln while still glowing and placed straight into combustible material. The smoke, the flame and the sudden cooling decide the final surface — which means no two Raku pieces are ever the same, including yours.
Why Raku is different
Most pottery is fired slowly and predictably. Raku is the opposite: fast, dramatic and partly outside anyone’s control. You glaze your piece, we fire it, and then it comes out red-hot in front of you. What happens in the next sixty seconds — the crackle in the glaze, the black where smoke caught the clay, the metallic sheen — is the piece.
It is the most visually exciting workshop we run, and the one people most often photograph.
What you will learn
- What Raku is and how it differs from conventional firing
- Preparing and glazing a piece for Raku
- What happens in the kiln and why timing matters
- The reduction stage — smoke, combustion and crackle
- Reading the results and understanding why each piece is unique
What is included
- Guided session of two to three hours
- Clay, glazes, tools and all firing
- Full supervision throughout the firing stage
- Unlimited drinks and snacks
- Your finished piece to take home
Book your Raku session
35 JOD, two to three hours, everything included. Bring a camera — the firing is worth filming.
Questions
Is Raku safe?
Yes. The firing stage involves high heat and open flame, so it is fully supervised by us at every point. You will be guided on exactly where to stand and what to do.
Can I choose the final colours?
You choose the glaze, but Raku is deliberately unpredictable. The smoke and cooling decide the final result, which is the whole point of the technique.
How long until I can take my piece home?
Raku is fired during the session, so in most cases you leave with your finished piece the same day.
Do I need any experience?
None at all. Most people who try Raku with us have never made pottery before.