Raku is a process for firing pottery, developed in 16th century Japan.  Raku ware was prized by the Japanese tea masters for its unique and timeless beauty.  In the ancient Raku tradition, the Gwinups's fire their pots in a small kiln one at a time.  With a practiced eye, they determine when the  pots have reached the desired temperature and the glazes have melted.  The Raku pots are then removed  from the kiln while still red hot and placed in a pit of sawdust and covered so that the combustibles cannot burn freely.  The chemical reaction between the burning sawdust and the molten glaze creates beautiful and unpredictable effects on the surface of the pottery.  Metallic lusters and dark crackle effects are the hallmarks of Raku.  Each piece, born of earth, water, and fire is a unique creation, never to be duplicated. 
 Michael & Michele Gwinup have been making and firing raku for the past 30 years. 
Their Raku vases, table lamps and wall pieces decorate homes all over the USA as well as around the world.