Benbulben Heart | Raku Ceramic
Julian Smith

Benbulben Heart | Raku Ceramic

€50.00
Quantity:

Home is where the heart is...This beautiful ceramic heart depicts Benbulben mountain in Sligo, Ireland. It's is a great gift idea to remind someone of home.

Raku ceramic Heart creating by Julian Smith of Kinsale. Handcrafted using the 16th century Raku technique originating in Japan.

For Raku work is removed from the kiln when glowing red hot and the stunning colours are created when the piece is placed in a container and covered with combustible materials like wood chip. Well known for his work, Julian began his training in Scotland and Wales then set up home in Kinsale where he has resided for over 20 years.

Due to the Raku technique colours may vary slightly to those shown.
Size 28cm x 16 cm

About the Artist

Julian Fullerton Smith is one of Ireland's pre-eminent ceramic Raku practitioners for over 35 years.  After training in Scotland and Wales, he moved to Ireland in 1995.  Initially he lived in Galway but soon discovered Kinsale, and established his own studio there in 1996.

Raku is a six century old ceramic firing technique originating in Japan. For Raku ceramic pieces are rapidly fired and when glowing red-hot they are taken from the kiln.  The piece is then placed in a container with combustible materials. The sudden drop in available oxygen and the chemical properties of the media it is smothered in creates striking colours using metallic oxides, but the ultimate outcome can never be fully controlled and only becomes apparent once the piece has cooled and can be leaned of encasing debris and ash.

Julian Smiths experience working in Raku is such that he controls the uncontrollable. He allows the raku process to work to full and strikingly unique effect, but confining its processes and resulting colour across controlled areas and planes of his surfaces. It works to stunning effect across his quirky and sometimes hyper sensual forms. A true master craftsman