Raku means joy, pleasure.

Raku is a type of pottery designed by the ancient Japanese Masters, mainly used for  tea ceremonies.

Raku techniques have been modified by contemporary potters starting from 1940/1950.  They introduced several methods to cause the characteristic enamel fracture, and the blackening of some parts of the object.

The most used method is to extract the still glowing object from the oven and place in a closed container with combustible material (leaves, seaweed, sawdust).

In this oxygen-free environment  the unglazed parts of the object  become black for the reducing effect of the atmosphere  that is created in the container. The enamelled parts of the object in this atmosphere acquire eminently metallic effects.