The raku technique, Raku-yaki (楽焼) or simply Raku, is an ancient Japanese art of pottery making.
This type of handcrafted ceramic object takes its name from the flame process and its connection to the traditional tea ceremony: the piece was glazed and fired during the tea ceremony, and the bowls were then used by the participants in the ceremony itself.
It thus ties in with the Shinto and Zen philosophy of Japanese culture where nature and ritual has enormous significance; the natural elements of earth, air, fire, and water recalled by the raku process itself are closely related to the ritual of Zen philosophy.
In Rei Delevri’s Etnic collection, which is still in design, we found it very interesting to add this particular technique that undoubtedly possesses a charm all its own.
Therefore, we thought of creating variations to our collections by enriching them with Raku ceramic inserts made with this ancient and very fascinating technique, which certainly adds great aesthetic value to the object.
To continue in the historical description of the Raku technique, it should be mentioned that although it has Japanese origins, its invention is attributed to a Korean craftsman, Chojiro, who made simple tiles in the 16th century.
Chojiro was mentored by Tea Cermony Master Sen-no-Rikyu who immediately understood the grace and simplicity of the ceramics made by Chojiro.
Raku means comfortable, relaxed, pleasant, calm and derives from the place where the clay from which pottery was made was quarried, henceforth Raku was used as the name-symbol of the lineage of potters descended from Chjiro that even today exists in Japan.
Objects made with the Raku technique have a fascination with imperfection, wabi-sabi, an ideal that has its aesthetic core in imperfection and rustic appearance.
Such objects, in ancient belief, were thought to possess the essence of beauty and judgment.