This would make a lovely addition to your home. The piece was thrown on a wheel and burnished by hand with a stone, creating an enticingly smooth surface. It was fired in sawdust, then the surface was waxed by hand to further accentuate the smoothness. It stands about 4" tall. Due to the nature of sawdust firing, it cannot hold water and is not suitable for food or drink usage. I suggest filling another container with water and placing it inside to display fresh flowers. What it lacks in functionality, it makes up for in the unique technique of sawdust firing.

These pot get their surface decoration by smoke and other materials rather than glaze. The pieces are placed in a metal trash barrel filled with sawdust and often random materials to leave surface markings (copper wire, salt, ferns and leaves). The pots are dispersed throughout, and the top of the sawdust is lit on fire. It burns for 15-30 minutes, then the flame goes out and the barrel continues to smolder. The way the smoke moves through the barrel and around the pots leaves the markings you see.

This piece was fired on a bed of peanut shells in the sawdust, in an area that was sprinkled with cobalt and copper. There are some beautiful brown and tan areas, places where the smoke left nice variations. There are also the random marks left by the smoke swirling around the pot. Every side is very unique and interesting to observe.

Be sure to check out one of my sawdust pots on page 125 of Mastering Raku, Lark Publications next time you're at the library or book shop!

Have any questions? Contact the shop owner.