After the first (bisque) firing ordinary earthenware glazes were applied with some additional oxides. The vase was rapidly heated up to 960°C, then placed in a barrel filled with combustible material, covered with wood shavings, and allowed to smoke. The amount of oxygen that is allowed during the firing and cooling process affects the resulting colour of the glaze and the amount of crackle. Generally my practice is to starve oxygen by placing a lid on the barrel after 1-3 minutes. The process is highly unpredictable but often causes metallic colours to be revealed as well as dark colours, often bearing no resemblance to any glaze used! (as in this instance).

From start to finish a pieces such as this will take 10-12 hours to complete with the designing, extruding, joining, bisque firing, glazing and then the raku process. In addition to the costs of time and materials, there are other overheads such as the power for the kiln.