Making Marx

Pieces that have this technique applied are burnished before they are bisque fired in an electric kiln.

 

After this a slip and a glaze are applied and the piece is fired again, this time in a raku kiln. Whilst the pieces are still hot they are removed from the kiln and placed into sawdust bins and sealed.

 

Starved of oxygen the sawdust creates smoke and the glaze begins to crack allowing the smoke to penetrate the pot.

 

After a few minutes the piece is removed and cooled, the glaze peels off, and the distinctive black and white markings or naked raku are revealed.