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American raku is rapidly fired, removed from the kiln while hot, and usually smoked afterwards. A still red-hot piece is placed in a container or pit with combustible material and covered. Since the oxygen supply to the resulting fire is cut off, the piece receives a very heavy smoking or "post-firing reduction". Many interesting glaze and surface effects can be obtained using this method. While "modern raku" is related to Japanese raku through the adaptation of the technique, the aesthetic of most contemporary work is totally unrelated to traditional Japanese work.
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