One of my special pieces for Ikebana style flower arranging. Made in Raku,33cms long, this piece has ten component pieces , making it a real piece of clay engineering. The 3" bar pinholder is fixed. The unique crackle glaze is achieved by using special clay and glaze. This dish has a new black central line with red highlite. The dish is fired up to 1000 degs C. At this point I lift it out of the kiln, (with tongs and gauntlets !) The thermal shock causes the glaze to crack. I then bury it in sawdust which catches fire. There is a lot of smoke. The smoke has carbon in it which penetrates the cracks and makes the lines black. When cool I scrub off all the burnt sawdust and carbon leaving the dish as you see it. A truly unique and special piece of ceramic.

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