Moonjar vase – Raku

The Moonjar is a refined piece of raku pottery, blending the raw beauty of unrefined clay with the intense patina effects that arise from the firing process. This vase features a combination of brown and matte black hues, creating a mysterious, yet elegant appearance. The striking patina is a direct result of the raku firing technique, where high heat and interaction with smoke give the clay a unique, textured finish. The design of the Moonjar is simple but powerful, making it an ideal decorative object or a beautiful vessel for displaying flowers.

Raku is an ancient ceramic technique that originated in Japan, known for its ability to create unique, organic forms and glaze finishes through dramatic temperature changes. The process begins by heating the pottery in a kiln to nearly 1,000°C, followed by a rapid cooling process when the object is removed from the oven and placed in open air. This sudden temperature shift causes the glaze to crack, resulting in the characteristic craquelé effect. Afterward, the pottery is often placed in a smoke chamber, where the smoke from burning materials like wood or paper interacts with the clay, altering its color and creating a smoky effect on the surface. This unpredictable process makes each piece truly one-of-a-kind, as the conditions of firing and the interaction of smoke and glaze create artistic effects that cannot be replicated.

The Moonjar’s foot bears a small crack, a natural result of the temperature shock from the raku firing technique. When the vase is standing upright, this crack is almost invisible. Keep in mind that if you want to put water in the vase, you need to place a (jam) jar in the vase. Due to the Raku firing technique, the vase itself is too porous to hold water.