Ceramic Raku Mask, Handmade hotsell Art from Sweden, Wall Decoration, Home Decor

My ceramics are 100% handmade and each is one of its kind.

Size of the mask: height 33cm (13 inches), width 15 cm (5.91 inches), depth 6.5 cm (2.56 inches).
Weight: 722 g

The Raku firing process which I'm using, makes each piece even more unique.

Raku is a traditional Japanese pottery technique from the early 1500's.
In raku firing, all of nature's elements are used. Earth, fire, air, and water.
The word Raku signifies enjoyment of freedom.

After I created this mask by hand with white clay, I dried it for over a week before I biscuit fired it in an hotsell electric kiln. Then I glazed it with a special rakuglaze. Afterwards I fired it in a raku kiln (with gas) for about an hour, until the temperature reached about 1000°C. I opened the kiln, took the glowing piece out and held it briefly into the open air to blow on it. Because of the quick reduction of the temperature, the glaze starts to crackle so you can hear it. Then I put it into a barrel with sawdust which immediately started to burn, before I closed the container with a lid so it becomes nearly airtight. The burning sawdust draws the oxygen from the clay which turns the naked clay black and highlights the valuable cracks in the glaze, which is characteristic for raku. In the finishing process I removed the mask (while it's still hot) out of the barrel and put it into water to cool it down. Then I scrubbed it to remove the extra layer of smoke and ash.
And so the cycle of earth, fire, air and water is complete. Raku is a daring process, and many pieces do explode during some phase of the firing. Those that survive the ordeal - the test of fire - are blessed.

This piece of art could be a beautiful wall decoration for your home or a perfect gift for somebody you love.

Feel free to ask any questions you have about this listing.