Tradition
Raku
Japan · 16th century – present
Pulled from fire. Made for tea.
A tile maker's son created bowls for the most powerful man in Japan—and invented an aesthetic that would change ceramics forever.
In 16th-century Kyoto, Sen no Rikyū was transforming the tea ceremony into something radical: stripped of ostentation, focused on humble materials and moments of profound attention. He needed bowls to match his vision. He found Chōjirō, son of a tile maker, who created vessels so simple they were revolutionary. These black and red bowls—hand-formed, not wheel-thrown, pulled hot from the kiln—became known as Raku, from a seal meaning 'enjoyment' or 'ease.' The Raku family has passed down this tradition for 15 generations. Western Raku, developed in the 20th century, takes the technique in different directions—post-firing reduction, metallic lusters, crackled surfaces—but the core remains: direct relationship with fire, the mark of the maker's hand, acceptance of the unexpected.
What would it mean to make something worthy of profound attention?
Techniques
- Hand forming
- Low fire
- Post-firing reduction
- Direct kiln work