Raku Horse no. 1
Raku Horses
The ceramic horses below on this page are shown in multiple views. These horses were Raku fired which involved using special low fire glazes and then removal of each glazed piece from the hot kiln. The transformed work is then allowed to cool in a container filled with combustible material. This process results in unpredictable but beautiful colors and surfaces.
The horse forms are simplified and idealized in ways that are reminiscent of Archaic Greek sculpture and even earlier forms. The earthy, weathered and burnt qualities of the surface reinforce the idea that these are archaeological objects that have survived and resurfaced as traces from another time. Were they children's toys, or icons that honored the work horse or the warrior horse, or were they survival and spiritual offerings to deities?
